Pile of Gravel Takes Lives of 19 in Bus-Tipper Lorry Collision in Telangana PM Modi, State Govt Announce Ex-Gratia

PTI, HYDERABAD, NOV 3, 2025 : Nineteen people, including 13 women and a girl child, were killed and 22 others suffered injuries when a tipper lorry carrying gravel collided head-on with a public transport bus in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana on Monday, officials said. The tipper collided with the Telangana Road Transport Corporation (RTC) vehicle near Chevella, about 50 km from Hyderabad, on Monday morning, resulting in the gravel falling on the bus.

A district official said 22 people suffered injuries in the mishap. Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty said the drivers of both vehicles died in the accident. Noting that a head-on collision occurs when one of the vehicles is on the wrong side, he said the cause of the accident would be known after the inquiry. With the gravel falling on the bus, several passengers got trapped inside the vehicle, and officials carried out relief measures using earthmovers. The passengers of the bus were brought out of it, a police official said.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. He announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the families of those who died, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. "I extend my deepest condolences to the affected individuals and their family members during this difficult time. I pray that the injured recover quickly," he said.

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who visited the government hospital at Chevella, where the accident victims were admitted, said, "19 people were killed in the accident." He said 72 people were in the ill-fated bus, which was proceeding to Hyderabad from Tandur in Ranga Reddy district early Monday morning.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held a tele-conference with ministers and officials on the accident. He said the government would ensure advanced medical care to the injured and also assist the families of the deceased in conducting funerals. He said the government had ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Transport Minister also said the state government would offer Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, in addition to Rs 2 lakh from TGSRTC. The government would also provide Rs 2 lakh each to the injured. Soon after coming to know of the mishap, the Chief Minister instructed officials to take up relief measures on a war footing. He also told ministers and officials to undertake relief measures, including providing compensation to the families of the deceased, in addition to the insurance provided by the RTC, an official release said.