Telangana Bus Accident 2025: Congress Leader Blames Free Ride Scheme for Crash That Killed 20

A devastating road accident in Telangana’s Rangareddy district has claimed 20 lives and left several others injured after a TGSRTC bus collided head-on with a truck on a national highway in Chevella mandal. The bus was reportedly carrying more than 70 passengers at the time of the crash.

Political Controversy Erupts

The tragedy took a political turn when senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao made a shocking remark, claiming that the accident occurred because there were “too many women on the bus” due to the state government’s free ride scheme for women.

His statement triggered widespread outrage across social media and political circles. Citizens and opposition parties condemned the comment, calling it insensitive and regressive.

Government Response

Following the accident, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and assured strict action against those responsible for any negligence.

Meanwhile, BJP MP from the region accused the state government of delaying the highway widening project, which has reportedly been pending since 2017, further intensifying the blame game.

Eyewitness Accounts

Locals reported that the collision occurred early in the morning when the bus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle. The impact was so severe that both the bus and the truck were completely damaged, and rescue teams struggled to retrieve the victims.

Safety and Accountability

Experts have called for improved highway infrastructure, better vehicle inspection systems, and driver fatigue monitoring to prevent such tragedies. They emphasize that blaming schemes like women’s free travel misses the root cause — poor road safety measures and inadequate traffic management.