'Killer Bus' Ran Over Fallen Bike

 Kurnool: AP police on Saturday said the Vemuri Kaveri travels bus had struck a motorcycle that was already lying on the National Highway-44 near Chinna Tekuru, after which it burst into flames. The police were investigating claims made by Erriswamy, a GHMC worker, who was on the pillion seat of the bike being driven by B. Siva Sankar.

The sequence of events, which briefly emerged on Friday but was dismissed by the police, emerged after the police began following up on a CCTV camera from a petrol bunk that showed Sankar and Erriswamy. The timestamp on the video showed 2.22 am, about half an hour before the accident which is believed to have occurred between 2.45 am and 3 am.

Kurnool SP Vikrant Patil said police verified CCTV footage from nearby areas and identified the pillion rider as Erriswamy, also known as Nani, a GHMC worker from Tuggali mandal. Police traced Erriswamy and questioned him.

DIG Dr Koya Praveen said that the bikers had not consumed alcohol. The duo had dinner together and as there were no buses available to the village at that time, Siva Sankar offered to drop Erriswamy on his way to Dhone.

According to the police, Siva Sankar, a granite worker, and Erriswamy left Lakshmipuram village around 2 am. After refuelling their bike with petrol worth ₹300 at the bunk, they continued their journey. A few minutes later, near Chinna Tekuru, Siva Sankar lost control of the bike, which skidded and hit the divider on the right side of the highway. He died on the spot, while his friend Erriswamy escaped with minor injuries.

Erriswamy told police that he pulled Siva Sankar off the road and checked if he was alive. While he tried to move the fallen bike, he saw the speeding bus heading towards him. He escaped, and the bus struck the bike for a short distance before bursting into flames. Erriswamy fled the scene and reached Tuggali.

Initially, police believed the version given by the bus driver or others, who claimed that the vehicle hit a moving bike. But the new footage and Erriswamy’s statement have exposed the truth — the bus driver failed to notice the bike lying on the road and ran over it due to sheer negligence, leading to the loss of 19 innocent lives.

SP Vikrant Patil said Ulindakonda police have registered a case and are continuing the investigation.

With regard to the bus fire victims, DIG Praveen said the police had gathered details of passengers who made reservations. One person boarded the bus at Aramghar in Hyderabad without a reservation, and his whereabouts are still unknown. He said the district SP has contacted Rajendranagar police to obtain CCTV footage of that individual. He added that a detailed report from the RTA officials regarding the bus is awaited. “If the forensic or motor vehicle inspection reports confirm negligence by the bus owner, we will take appropriate action,” the DIG stated.