Bus Collides with Truck on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Highway, Injuring 30 Passengers
Early Wednesday morning, a state-run bus traveling from Hyderabad to Kurnool crashed into a container truck on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru national highway. The accident left at least 30 passengers injured, with three in critical condition. Most of the 63 people on board were heading home for the Sankranti festival when the collision occurred.
Details of the Early Morning Crash
The RTC bus rammed into the container truck from behind near Macharam village in Mahbubnagar district. Police officials reported the accident happened around 1:30 am. They estimate the bus was traveling between 80 and 90 kilometers per hour at the moment of impact.
"We suspect the driver may have dozed off while driving, leading to the accident," said an official from Jadcherla police station. Authorities have registered a case against the bus driver, identified as Karthik, who was among those injured in the crash.
Emergency Response and Medical Treatment
Emergency services rushed all injured passengers to Jadcherla hospital immediately after the accident. Medical personnel later transferred 30 patients to Mahabubnagar Government General Hospital using four ambulances for advanced treatment.
A doctor at the Mahabubnagar hospital provided details about the injuries. "Twenty passengers suffered major injuries, while ten sustained minor injuries and were discharged by evening," the doctor explained. "Three patients, including the bus driver, remain under observation. The driver suffered blunt abdominal trauma, while two others sustained head injuries. Their condition is currently stable."
Severe Damage and Traffic Disruption
Visuals from the accident site revealed extensive damage to the front portion of the bus. The collision caused significant traffic congestion on the national highway, with vehicles backed up for nearly three kilometers toward Kurnool. The traffic jam affected many travelers heading to their native places in Andhra Pradesh for Sankranti celebrations.
NH-44's Troubled Safety Record
This accident adds to NH-44's concerning history of road incidents in 2025. The highway has witnessed several deadly crashes this year:
- A bus fire near Chinnatekuru in Kurnool district claimed 20 lives earlier this year
- In November 2025, a Hyderabad resident died and eight passengers were injured when a bus traveling from Bengaluru to Hyderabad hit another vehicle and overturned
- Also in November, over 30 passengers narrowly escaped injury when a private bus collided with a hydrochloric acid tanker on the Macharam flyover in Mahabubnagar
- In September, two people died and two others were injured in another road accident on the same highway at Rajapur mandal in Mahabubnagar
RTC officials confirmed that the bus driver Karthik remains under medical care. Narender, controller of the Kollapur depot, stated that all necessary assistance is being provided to the injured passengers. Police continue their investigation into the exact circumstances of the collision.
