Vijayawada: Three persons, including a seven-month-old baby boy, have died while two others were injured when an APSRTC bus rammed Platform No. 12 at the Pandit Nehru Bus Station at about 8.40 am on Monday.
The deceased were M. Kumari, 40, her grandson Cherry and RTC conductor working on an outsourcing basis at Guntur-II depot Y. Veeraiah, 28.
A metro luxury bus bound for Guntur from Vijayawada arrived at the bus station and 24 passengers boarded it. When it was about to proceed to Guntur, it jumped the platform, hitting the waiting passengers. It rammed against the chairs, damaging them, and stopped.
Under its impact, three persons including the woman, her grandson and the conductor suffered critical injuries. The woman and conductor died on the spot while the critically injured toddler was taken to the government hospital where he died a while later.
Krishnalanka circle inspector Durga Rao said the police booked a case against the bus driver under Sections 304 (B) and 337 of IPC and took him into custody for questioning.
APSRTC managing director Dwaraka Tirumala Rao rushed to the bus station. Later, he ordered for a probe and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The corporation would also bear the cost of medical treatment to the injured.
He claimed that the condition of the bus was good. Drivers would be allowed to drive the buses only after the conduct of an alcohol test, he said.
Meanwhile, RTC authorities called the experts from the bus maker, Volvo, to examine the bus and find out what went wrong. Initial reports suggest wrong application of gear and failure of the brake resulted in the mishap.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered a probe into the bus mishap and granted an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also expressed concern and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members.
