A major disaster was narrowly avoided in the early hours of Thursday when a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus experienced a catastrophic brake failure on a dangerous ghat road in Adilabad district. The incident occurred near Parandholi village in Kerameri mandal.
Driver's Quick Thinking Prevents Catastrophe
The bus, carrying approximately 40 passengers from Parandholi to Adilabad, was descending a steep slope when its brakes suddenly failed. As the vehicle began to rapidly gain speed, the driver demonstrated remarkable presence of mind. Faced with the imminent threat of the bus plunging into a deep ravine, he deliberately steered it off the road and into an adjoining cotton field.
A senior TGSRTC official confirmed that this decisive action by the driver was instrumental in preventing a far more severe tragedy. The bus came to a halt in the soft soil of the field, averting a potential free fall.
Injuries and Rescue Operations
The sudden off-roarding, however, resulted in injuries to several passengers. One woman sustained serious injuries, while 29 other passengers suffered minor injuries. Emergency services were promptly alerted and rushed to the remote accident site.
All injured individuals were successfully evacuated and transported to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad for treatment. While the majority received first aid and were discharged, the seriously injured woman passenger remains under medical observation at the hospital.
The official added that while passenger evacuation was managed smoothly, "it was difficult to remove the bus from the accident site due to the challenging terrain."
A Dangerous and Neglected Stretch
This accident has once again highlighted the perilous condition of the ghat road near Parandholi. Local residents have long flagged this stretch as a death trap. Rathod Pushpalatha, the sarpanch of Parandholi, stated that this was the third bus accident on this same route in just the last two years.
She further revealed that accidents involving two-wheelers are a frequent occurrence. Despite the clear and present danger, efforts to improve the road have stalled. "Although a road improvement project was sanctioned, it has been stalled by the forest department despite our repeated pleas," the sarpanch told the media.
The incident underscores the urgent need for authorities to address infrastructure gaps on state highways, especially in hilly regions, to prevent such harrowing close calls in the future.
