How many passengers were in TGSRTC bus hit by truck in Chevella?

Exactly how many passengers were travelling in the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus involved in the road accident near Chevella?

Answer to this question becomes critical because the authorities are required to act against the TGSRTC authorities if the bus carried passengers beyond its seating capacity. As per the First Information Report (723/2025), the bus with registration no TS 34 TA 6354 was carrying 72 persons.

The FIR was issued based on the complaint given by Radha, conductor of the bus. According to the FIR, the statement of the conductor was recorded by the woman head constable K. Ashwini. The same was read back to her for confirmation. Upon finding it correct, the conductor affixed her right-hand thumb impression as she sustained injury on her left hand.

Bus had seating capacity of 51

Interestingly, the Tandoor Bus Depot Manager, Suresh Kumar, said the bus was carrying only 55 passengers as per the conductor Radha’s version. The bus had a seating capacity of 51. The rules permitted 10% additional passengers. However, the statistical record (SR), which would be in the custody of the conductor, was lost in the accident, he said.

In the absence of SR, it would be difficult to ascertain the precise number of the passengers who travelled in the bus at the time of accident, he said. As per section 194-A of the Motor Vehicle Act, a punishment of ₹200 rupees per each excess passenger had to be imposed on the vehicle owner. The vehicle should not be allowed to move till every excess passenger is made to get off it.

Carrying more passengers than the permitted seating capacity is likely to cost, some times, even lives of the passengers. The death of 64 passengers travelling in RTC bus at Kondagattu temple after it fell into a gorge in 2018 is a classic example. More than 80 persons were reportedly travelling in the bus.

The Chevella Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kishan, said the investigators were yet to get any report from the Transport Department officials to ascertain if there was any negligence on the part of RTC officials with regard to excess passengers. The Rangareddy Deputy Transport Commissioner, G. Sadanand, said the Transport department was ready to initiate action but were waiting for the report of the police for precise details of the incident.