Hyderabad, November 3, 2025 – A devastating collision between a speeding passenger bus and a cement-laden lorry on the outskirts of Chevella has claimed at least 20 lives, with the death toll expected to rise as several critically injured victims battle for survival in hospitals across Telangana. The horrific accident, which unfolded early Sunday morning on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway, has left families shattered and authorities scrambling to investigate what eyewitnesses describe as a "nightmare on wheels."
The crash occurred around 4:30 a.m. near the Chevella mandal in Ranga Reddy district, approximately 50 kilometers from Hyderabad. The TSRTC (Telangana State Road Transport Corporation) bus, en route from Hyderabad to Vijayawada with over 50 passengers aboard, was reportedly overtaking another vehicle when it collided head-on with the lorry traveling in the opposite direction. The impact was catastrophic: the lorry's cargo of heavy cement bags smashed through the bus's windshield, crushing the front section and igniting a fierce blaze fueled by the bus's diesel tank.
Rescue operations, involving teams from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), local police, and fire services, stretched into the afternoon amid twisted metal and acrid smoke. "The scene was unimaginable – bodies strewn across the road, flames licking the wreckage," said Chevella Circle Inspector Rajesh Kumar, who led the initial response. "We pulled out survivors from the rear, but the front was a total loss. It's a miracle anyone walked away."
Among the dead are at least 15 bus passengers, including women and children returning from a family wedding in Hyderabad, the bus driver, and the lorry driver. Four more fatalities were confirmed later from burn injuries, pushing the toll to 20. Over 30 others were rushed to nearby hospitals in Chevella, Sangareddy, and Hyderabad's Osmania General Hospital. At least 12 remain in critical condition, suffering from severe burns, fractures, and internal injuries. "We've set up a green corridor for ambulances, but the next 24 hours are crucial," stated Dr. Priya Reddy, head of emergency at Osmania Hospital, where a dedicated trauma ward has been activated.
Identities of the deceased began trickling in by midday, with bodies handed over to grieving kin after post-mortems at the Government Medical College in Hyderabad. Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at the morgue: a father clutching his young daughter's charred belongings, a widow wailing as her husband's shrouded form was loaded into an ambulance. "He was coming home after months away – now this," sobbed Lakshmi Devi, whose husband, a construction worker from Vijayawada, was among the first identified. The Telangana government has announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy ordering a high-level probe.
Eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations point to reckless driving as a key factor. The lorry driver, identified as 42-year-old Venkatesh from Nalgonda, was allegedly fatigued after a long haul and veered into the wrong lane. CCTV footage from a nearby toll plaza shows the bus attempting a risky overtake in foggy conditions, a stretch notorious for high-speed mishaps. "The highway needs barriers and better lighting – accidents like this are preventable," lamented NHAI Regional Officer Srinivas Rao, who revealed that fog and poor visibility, exacerbated by early morning dew, played a role.
This tragedy adds to Telangana's grim road safety record, with over 10,000 fatalities reported in the state last year alone. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, arriving at the site, vowed stricter enforcement: "No more leniency for overloaded lorries or fatigued drivers. We'll fast-track licenses for dash cams in public transport." Advocacy groups like the Road Safety Foundation called for immediate audits of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada corridor, citing over 50 similar crashes in the past two years.
As the sun set on the wreckage-strewn highway, now cleared for partial traffic, the air hung heavy with sorrow. Yellow ribbons of caution tape fluttered in the breeze, a stark reminder of lives cut short. Families gathered in hospital waiting rooms, united in grief and demands for justice. For the survivors, the road to recovery – physical and emotional – has only just begun.
TCO News will continue to update this developing story. Our thoughts are with the affected families during this unimaginable loss
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
