Bus fire mishap claims 45 lives

Hyderabad, Oct 30: In a tragic bus accident, as many as 45 passengers were burnt alive when a bus they were travelling in caught fire in Mahabubnagar district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The private Volvo bus, belonging to Jabbar Travels, caught fire after hitting a culvert near Palem in Kottakota mandal of Mahabubnagar district, while coming from Bangalore to Hyderabad around 4.20 AM. Five persons, who survived the tragedy, were later admitted to a hospital. The diesel tanker reportedly exploded after the bus hit the culvert and within no time the entire bus caught fire.

Speaking to media persons at the RTA Office at Khairtabad, Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayan confirmed 45 deaths in the tragic accident. He said that five injured persons were undergoing treatment in a hospital. He said that the Jabbar Travels took the bus on lease. He said help lines have been set up to help the relatives and the process of identification of dead bodies have been started.

Botsa said that the decision on payment of compensation to the victims’ families would be taken after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy returns from Srikakulam tour. He said all steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in future.

The Mahabubnagar district police have opened help lines with the following numbers: 9494600100, 08542-245927, 245930, 245932.

- INN