RTC Bus Plunges Off Bridge in Utnoor: 30 Injured, Several Critical

Utnoor, Feb 23: A major road accident occurred in the early hours of Monday in Utnoor mandal of Adilabad district, after a TGSRTC bus lost control and plunged off a bridge into a stream. The incident, which took place near Shampur village, left at least 30 passengers injured, with several reportedly in critical condition.

The bus, belonging to the Asifabad depot, was traveling from Adilabad toward Utnoor when the mishap occurred. As the vehicle reached the Shampur bridge, it reportedly veered off the road, crashed through the protection barriers, and fell into the dry stream bed below. Local residents, primarily agricultural workers on their way to the fields, were the first to respond to the scene. They were met with the screams of trapped passengers and immediately alerted the police and emergency services.

Local villagers and police personnel worked together to pull passengers through the bus windows and doors during a rapid evacuation. The injured, including the driver and conductor, were rushed to the Utnoor Government Hospital via 108 ambulances. At least five passengers sustained severe injuries and were later shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad for specialized treatment.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar expressed deep shock over the incident and spoke with RTC MD and local officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the victims. Preliminary reports suggest that the absence of a sturdy protection wall on the bridge may have contributed to the severity of the accident. While some locals suspect the driver may have dozed off, authorities are also investigating potential technical failures or the narrowness of the bridge as contributing factors.

“Safety protocols on these narrow bridges must be addressed immediately to prevent such tragedies,” noted a local resident from Shampur, highlighting that the stretch has become increasingly dangerous for heavy vehicles.