Major tragedy averted as RTC bus overturns in Krishna district

Vijayawada: A major accident was narrowly averted in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district on Monday when an APSRTC bus lost control and overturned in agricultural fields after its steering rod reportedly snapped.The incident occurred in Kankipadu mandal while APSRTC Bus No. 220, belonging to the Gannavaram depot, was travelling from Tenneeru to Gannavaram. According to officials, the steering rod suddenly broke on the stretch between Tenneeru and Manthena villages, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.The bus veered off the road, plunged into nearby farmland and overturned, triggering panic among passengers. At the time of the accident, about 20 passengers were travelling on the bus.Residents rushed to the spot immediately after the mishap and launched rescue operations. With their assistance, all passengers were safely evacuated from the overturned vehicle.Three passengers sustained minor injuries in the accident and were shifted to the govt hospital in Kankipadu for treatment. The remaining passengers escaped with minor bruises and shock, bringing relief to their families and authorities alike.The incident raised concerns over vehicle maintenance and passenger safety. Preliminary reports suggest that the steering rod failure was the primary cause of the accident.Police reached the scene, registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to the mishap. APSRTC officials also conducted an inquiry into the mechanical failure that nearly resulted in a major tragedy.