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KURNOOL: Most passengers on the Kaveri bus on Friday could not escape after the fire incident as the emergency door got jammed. The illegally re-designed bus obstructed their exit. According to guidelines of the central government's MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways), every bus should have emergency doors, windows, escape hatches, and even trap doors on the floor to ensure passenger safety, alongside passenger convenience. However, many travel bus operators modify these approved guidelines to create berths unofficially to maximise profit. In the case of the V. Kaveri bus, though it had been registered in Telangana in 2018, it obtained approvals from union territory Daman and Diu, and subsequently Odisha. In the process, the bus operator changed its officially approved seating to 40 berths, a blatantly illegal act. Experts pointed out that such restructured buses reduce space for emergency windows and doors, putting passengers at risk and even trapping them, like in Friday morning's blaze. "On the lower deck of many sleeper buses, the berth structure or sidewall design reduces usable openings, making it difficult for passengers to exit quickly during an emergency," said Dr. Ravi Kumar Mandava from the mechanical wing of IIIT-DM, Kurnool. He pointed out that windows should have quick-release latches or breakable glass, be clearly marked as emergency exits in red letters, along with hammers or other tools for escape. However, bus operators are prioritising profits over passenger safety by developing designs that ignore these critical safety features. "Each bay in the bus, where passengers sleep or sit, should have easily accessible emergency windows. At least six such windows along with the main door, driver exit, and rear exit; can provide adequate safety without taking up much space," said Prof. V. Naga Prasad Naidu from the Mechanical Engineering Department of JNTU, Anantapur. Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr. Koya Praveen, who inspected the accident site and the bus, made it clear that the design of the ill-fated bus and facilities did not ensure passenger safety. Speaking of floor trap doors, these areas are often used by travel bus operators for transporting goods to enhance profits, thereby shutting an escape route that could save lives in an emergency.
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...Read More >
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's Wayside Amenity Stations, initiated by NHAI, are revolutionizing the travel experience for long-distance truck drivers. These driver-centric stations offer essential facilities such as rest areas, dining, and refueling, significantly enhancing comfort, safety, and convenience for India's highway heroes. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is setting new standards in eco-sensit ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Bhilwara: Communal tensions flared Saturday in Jahazpur town of Bhilwara district after a minor car collision with a vegetable vendor's cart led to violence in which a young man was beaten to death the previous night.A key temple event was postponed Saturday and permissions for weekend Muharram processions revoked after threats from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal not to allow any such events in this area of the BJP-governed state. Police deployments were stepped up and markets in Jahazpur town were shut Saturday.The trouble began when Sitaram Keer (25) was headed to Jahazpur with ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The ill-fated Kaveri Travels bus was found to have multiple violations as far as safety was concerned. The bus, which was registered with a capacity of 43 seats according to Vahan data, was converted into a sleeper coach. According to Central Motor Vehicle (CMV) rules, sleeper buses should get approval from the registration authority for layout of seats and measurements of the bus body, including height, width, and length.The bus also lacked adequate fire safety mechanisms. Sleeper buses should have four emergency exits, including two roof hatches. They should also have a fire alar ...Read More >
Tirupati: A large consignment of mobile phones in the luggage compartment of the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus may have significantly intensified the inferno and accelerated the loss of lives, it has emerged.A consignment of 234 new smartphones was being transported in the bus going to Bengaluru from Hyderabad. Preliminary investigation revealed that a Hyderabad-based businessman, identified as Manganath, was transporting the consignment of mobile phones, worth approximately Rs 46 lakh, Kurnool polic ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Conducting raids on private bus operators for a few days whenever accidents occur and ignoring their violations later has become allegedly become a routine practice for some Road Transport Authority (RTA) officials in Telangana. Following Friday's mishap near Kurnool, RTA officials once again launched statewide inspections on Saturday. Frequent accidents involving private buses are being attributed to negligence by some RTA officials and the rampant collection of 'mamools' (bribes) from transport operators. Some higher officials allegedly fix monthly targets for motor vehicle inspe ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) The Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in the current financial year, despite geo-political tensions and trade policy uncertainties, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Chairman S Mahendra Dev said on Tuesday. In an interview with PTI, Dev further said that domestic growth will be driven by low inflation, resulting from good monsoon and benign interest rate regime, triggered by three back-to-back rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India. "There are significant global headwinds like the twin shocks of geo-political tensions and trade ...Read More >
Medak: Telangana State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao on Friday appealed to the people to give the committed party an opportunity to meet the aspirations of the poor and downtrodden. Addressing a large gathering of party workers in Medak, the BJP chief remarked that citizens have experienced the rule of the BRS and the Congress party and have had bitter experiences with the deceitful practices of both. He urged people to support the BJP wholeheartedly in the upcoming local body elections as a way to teach the ruling Congress party a lesson for its unfulfilled promises. Rao emphasized that t ...Read More >
Patna, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major action against corruption, the State Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Saturday arrested Sub-Inspector Putul Kumari, the SHO of the Women's Police Station in Samastipur, for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. Her driver was also arrested in the case. The arrest has created a stir within the police department. According to an official, Putul Kumari was caught red-handed while taking the bribe from Rajiv Ranjan, a resident of Chhatauna village under Mufassil police station limits, in connection with an assault case. Rajiv Ranjan had filed a written complaint with ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi govt has prepared a plan under which Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus drivers and conductors will receive regular training, with a focus on ethical values, customer service and safe driving, transport minister Pankaj Singh said on Friday. The move is for improving the public image of DTC buses.The minister mentioned that DTC bus drivers who fail to halt at designated stops or are found speeding will face strict departmental action.Several commuters have complained about the behaviour of DTC bus drivers. There have alleged that the buses often fail to stop at the designate ...Read More >
A bus fire near Thaiyat village in Jaisalmer claimed 20 lives. Authorities have released helpline numbers for the public to assist in identifying victims and supporting affected families. DNA identification efforts are underway, with an expert team en route to Jodhpur. A day after 20 passengers were killed after a bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, authorities in the District Administration of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer have issued their respective helpline numbers for t ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification, stating that all electric cars, buses, and trucks must be equipped with Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) starting October 2027. Through this mandate, the government aims to resolve safety concerns related to the silent operations of electric vehicles (EVs). What is AVAS, and why is it useful in EVs? The AVAS or Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems is a safety feature used in electric and hybrid vehicles. It emits artificial sounds at low speeds, especially when the EV reaches 30 kmph or goes belo ...Read More >
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 26 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday confirmed that the two bike-borne persons connected to the Bengaluru-bound bus fire accident, which claimed the lives of 19 passengers, were drunk. In the wee hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met in an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district. There were 44 passengers on the bus and several managed to escape. The two-wheeler was dragged forward underneath the bus, leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent ignition and intensification of the blaze w ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
Rayachoti (Andhra Pradesh), Jul 3 (PTI) Two alleged terrorists from Tamil Nadu nabbed here recently after 30 years lived under "fake identities," and nearly 20 kg of explosives were seized from them, police said on Thursday. Abubacker Siddique, allegedly involved in the 2011 pipe-bomb planting attempt during BJP veteran and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's rath yatra in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and his accomplice Mohammed Ali were arrested earlier from here. Siddique was involved in several bomb blasts in south India and was arrested by the Tamil Nadu's Anti Terrorism Squad from his hid ...Read More >
Jammu, Jul 18 (PTI) Senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government reviewed the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the 13-day-long Budha Amarnath pilgrimage in Poonch district that will begin on July 28. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh reviewed security in Poonch and stressed ensuring the safety of the devotees. "The first batch will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu on July 28, moving towards the Mandi tehsil in Poonch in a regulated convoy amid full security arrangements," a spokesperson said. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspec ...Read More >
Srinagar: The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police is conducting searches at ten locations across four districts in the Valley. An official told news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into a terror-crime case linked to a terrorist sleeper cell and recruitment module handled by Jaish commander Abdullah Ghazi from across the border. The searches are underway at one location in Pulwama, six in Ganderbal, one in Srinagar, and two in Budgam district -- (KNO) ...Read More >
Kurnool, Oct 24 (UNI) In a ghastly road accident, 19 bus passengers and a motorcyclist were charred alive when a Bangalore-bound private bus caught fire after hitting a motorcycle in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours on Friday. According to DIG Koya Praveen, the ill-fated bus, belonging to Vemuri Kaveri Travels, burst into flames after colliding with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction. The bike got stuck under the bus, rupturing its fuel tank. The petrol spilling from the tank of the bike resulted in the bus erupting in a ball of fire. The inferno engulfed the ...Read More >
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 26 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday confirmed that the two bike-borne persons connected to the Bengaluru-bound bus fire accident, which claimed the lives of 19 passengers, were drunk. In the wee hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met in an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district. There were 44 passengers on the bus and several managed to escape. The two-wheeler was dragged forward underneath the bus, leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent ignition of the fire. "We just received th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims suffered minor injuries Saturday after a bus hit another in a Pahalgam-bound convoy that had stopped at Chanderkote in J&K's Ramban district for breakfast, triggering a chain collision among four buses.The accident occurred around 7.15am after the driver of the first bus reportedly lost control due to brake failure. The pilgrims in the buses were part of a larger group of 6,979 who had left for the cave shrine in Kashmir from a base camp in Jammu.The ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister Suresh Gopi stirred controversy on Tuesday by claiming that those elected by "corpses" are now serving the state. Speaking at a neighbourhood meet called "Kalungu" in Idukki district, he alleged that cadavers from 25 years ago had cast votes in Kerala elections. Media reports have previously highlighted incidents of deceased voters being listed as active in Kerala's voter list, he said, while indirectly referring to the accusations of "scientific rigging " against the Left parties. The minister was responding to allegations of voter fraud in Thrissur consti ...Read More >
KURNOOL (ANDHRA PRADESH), Oct 24: A Bengaluru-bound private bus from Hyderabad caught fire in this district on Friday after colliding with a two-wheeler, leaving 12 people dead, a senior police official said. Official sources indicated that the toll may rise. Among the deceased was the biker. According to initial reports, the motorcycle collided with the bus near Chinnatekur in Kurnool and got dragged underneath with its fuel cap open, triggering the blaze. "So far, 11 passengers and a biker have died. Police are entering the bus to assess the situation, and the fate of nine other passenger ...Read More >
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The rider of the bike which became the cause of Friday's bus fire tragedy near here killing 19 passengers was drunk, but the bus driver was not found under the influence of alcohol, a senior police official said on Sunday. While the reckless manner in which the rider was seen riding the bike in the CCTV footage obtained by police on Saturday had clearly indicated that he was drunk, the forensic report confirmed on Sunday that he was under the influence of alcohol. The report from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Kurnool confir ...Read More >
The govt reiterated that a multi-pronged approach involving enforcement, awareness, infrastructure upgrades and policy reforms is being pursued to further reduce road accidents in the UT Jammu, Mar 30: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that road accidents in the Union Territory have shown a declining trend over the past three years, owing to the effective implementation of various road safety measures. In a written reply to the question of National Conference MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar in ...Read More >