TIRUPATI: Devotees travelling in an APSRTC electric bus going from Tirumala to Tirupati had a miraculous escape on Wednesday when their vehicle going down the first ghat skidded near Tirumala and overturned. The bus had 29 passengers of which 12 received injuries.
Sources in Vigilance and Security wing of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) said the accident took place when the RTC bus driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating the turn at the 28th curve. He rammed the bus into the parapet wall. The bus then skidded off and overturned.
Passers-by told police that the driver had been over speeding.
On knowing about the accident, officials of TTD's Vigilance and Security, apart from police, rushed to the spot. They shifted the injured to S.V.R. Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati. After first-aid, they were shifted to BIRRD Hospital.
Traffic on the first ghat road came to halt for a short while and resumed later.
TTD executive officer (EO) A.V. Dharma Reddy ordered TTD medical wing officials to conduct all medical tests on the injured devotees. He asked officials concerned to make travel arrangements for devotees, so that they can return home safely.
The TTD EO has ordered an inquiry into the accident. The TTD has 10 electric buses and APSRTC 65. He asked state road transport officials and electric bus supplier Olectra Greentech Limited to undertake thorough checks to prevent such mishaps in future.
Meanwhile, the RTC authorities have formed a committee to ascertain the root cause for the accident and study the existing criteria for selection of drivers to operate buses on Ghat roads, training needs, testing procedures and accident prevention measures.
The committee committee comprises Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) - Convenor, Chief Mechanical Engineer (Maintenance), District Public Transport Officer, Chittoor, and a Representative of M/s EVEY TRANS (JAB) Private Limited.
