Bus overturns after hitting divider, one killed

TIRUPATI: A passenger died and at least 20 others injured when their bus overturned into a gorge after crashing into a divider on the Bengaluru-Tirupati national highway near Palamaner town in Chittoor district. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Krishna (28) of Guntur.

The incident took place during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday while the private travels’ bus had been going to Guntur from Bengaluru.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of the bus reportedly fell asleep while driving around 12:30 a.m., just when the bus was about to negotiate a deep curve on the highway. The bus hit the divider, overturned and fell into the gorge, killing one of the passengers and injuring nearly 20 others.

On learning about the incident, police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to Palamaner hospital for treatment.

Police have registered a case and are investigating. They are yet to disclose details of the driver.