ASR Bus Accident: Driver Lost Control of Steering, Brakes Failed, Says Second Driver
Woman passenger M Lakahmi (55) said all were asleep at the time of the mishap, as they were tired of travelling. A sudden jerk woke them up. “People fell on each other as the bus rolled down and came to a halt .I was lucky to survive.’
Visakhapatnam: The second driver, Pogalla Prasad, told the media from the Chintoor area hospital that the main driver was on the wheels. He lost control of the steering while approaching the curve at Rajugarimettu. He claimed that the brakes failed leading to the accident. Prasad escaped with minor injuries.
Passenger MP Vakramani, in his sixties, who escaped safe, said the bus started from Chittoor on Dec 6 evening and after touring Arasavalli and Srikurmam in Srikakulam district reached Simhachalam on Thursday evening. “After taking a few hours’ rest, we started off to Araku and from there to Bhadrachalam. The accident took place in Chintoor,” he said.
“I was sitting behind the driver and the bus tumbled from the other side. Hence I did not suffer any injury,’’ Vakramani told the media.
Woman passenger M Lakahmi (55) said all were asleep at the time of the mishap, as they were tired of travelling. A sudden jerk woke them up. “People fell on each other as the bus rolled down and came to a halt .I was lucky to survive,’’ she said.
Transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy visited the Chintoor community health centre and spoke to the injured persons. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased on behalf of the government and Rs 2 lakh to each of the injured.
Rampachodavaram MLA Miriyala Sirisha Devi and local officials were present along with him.
