HYDERABAD: After the Kurnool bus accident, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Friday said a joint meeting of the transport ministers and commissioners of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka will soon be convened to strengthen inter-state transport safety.
Speaking to the media, he said that the government is ensuring the best possible medical treatment for those injured in the accident on Friday and expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families.
“The Kurnool bus accident has caused immense sorrow. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has reviewed the details of the incident and spoken with the Andhra Pradesh transport minister, Kurnool district collector, and SP. Thousands of passengers travel daily between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. We will take all steps to prevent such tragedies in the future,” Prabhakar said.
The minister defended the Transport department’s daily bus fitness inspections, stating that while some operators call them “harassment,” such checks are essential to prevent tragic accidents like the one in the Kurnool district earlier in the day. “When we conduct inspections, some allege harassment. But if we don’t, we risk accidents like these. We will take every possible measure to ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.
Prabhakar emphasised, “Speed limits save lives. We will ensure strict enforcement of such norms,” and highlighted the need for HSRP (High Security Registration Plate) to curb private travel buses running on illegal and duplicate number plates.
To strengthen monitoring, the Telangana Transport department plans to introduce a token-based speed regulation system. Under this plan, a digital token will be issued at the start of each journey, recording the departure time.
If the bus reaches its destination earlier than the expected time, the operator will face penalties for overspeeding.
Chaos strikes during Kurnool bus recovery
Kurnool: A crane driver sustained injuries on Friday when the crane, tasked with removing the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus, toppled after its hook detached. Officials were attempting to clear the damaged vehicle and restore traffic after completing formalities when the crane mishap occurred. The injured driver was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
CM reviews rescue efforts with DGP
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy convened a meeting on Friday with Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy immediately after being informed about the bus accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Revanth instructed officials to make all necessary arrangements at the accident site and set up a helpline for families. Genco Chairman and Managing Director Harish was directed to proceed to the spot. Officials from Gadwal district were also asked to reach the site and coordinate with Andhra Pradesh authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for survivors and assist in identifying the deceased.
