Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed grief over the bus tragedy on Bhakarapeta ghat road near Tirupati late on Saturday night and directed the officials to facilitate the relief process and provide necessary treatment to the injured.
The government has announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
A release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that the Chief Minister had personally monitored the evacuation and treatment process. He also sought a report from the Collector and the Superintendent of Police on the exact cause for the mishap.
The bus carrying close-knit families from Anantapur district to Tirupati for an engagement function fell into a gorge abutting the highway resulting in the death of seven persons on the spot while two died at the hospital undergoing treatment. Forty-three persons were injured and most of them are said to have suffered fractures.
Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy called on the patients undergoing treatment at SV Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital here on Sunday and offered all support from the government.
Apart from directing the hospital authorities to ensure the best treatment to the victims, the Minister also appreciated the officials who responded in time and took measures to rescue the victims from the 50-foot gorge.
The hilly stretch, which has long been identified as an accident-prone zone on the Tirupati – Madanapalle - Ananthapur highway, witnessed a spate of mishaps during the recent months, notwithstanding the widening taken up a few years back.
There has been a demand for installation of protective railings on the valley side of the road to prevent vehicles from running astray, especially during nights.
Mr. Ramachandra Reddy directed the officials to install temporary railings immediately, as the road will soon be converted into a four-lane highway at an outlay of ₹1,500 crore.
Venkaiah’s condolences
Meanwhile, Vice-President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has taken to Twitter to express his condolences to the accident victims. In a tweet from the official handle @VPSecretariat, Mr. Naidu dubbed the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and also prayed for the early recovery of the victims.
