Steep Curve with Thick Fog Likely Caused Bus Mishap

Based on a preliminary inquiry by the transport authorities, the bus driver was driving at about 40 km/h. Faced with two immediate ‘S’ and ‘S’ curves, he was unable to manoeuvre the bus. “In an attempt to take a steep curve towards the low gradient, the driver hit a rock on the right side, at the front side of the bus. Under its impact, the bus moved towards the left and again hit a big rock,” officials said.

“With no protection wall, the driver lost control. The bus fell down 20 feet below and overturned between the upper and lower road, trapping the passengers under its belly.”

The transport authorities suspect that the bus driver lacked adequate experience to drive through the curves on the ghat road, or steep hairpin bends, amidst inclement weather conditions.

The bus reached just one km short of the full distance of the ghat road, when the mishap occurred.

The bus bearing the registration number AP 39 UM 6543 has a single district permit up to 08-11-2027, which was registered with the RTA in Chittoor. Its fitness certificate was valid up to 07-1102026, the tax was paid up 31-12-2025, the insurance was up to 02-01-2026.

Hence, the transport authorities have ruled out any issues about the fitness of the bus and its permits, and stressed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol.

ASR district transport officer rakasa Rao said, “The driver appears to have failed to reduce the speed of the bus while negotiating the successive set of bends with steep lower gradient. This obviously resulted in the driver losing balance on the wheel. The bus swerved to the lower side, fell down and overturned.”

Informed sources, however, put the blame also on the lack of protection wall at some portions of the ghat road. A large number of vehicles of tourists, heavy vehicles transiting cargo and RTC buses move on this road on a regular basis from Rajamahendravaram to Bhadrachalam and vice versa.