Techie, 2 others run over by RTC bus at Gachibowli

HYDERABAD: Three persons, including a software professional working for Capgemini, died and another suffered injuries when a TSRTC city bus went amok at Gachibowli Crossroads on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Janardhan Shivaji, 33, a senior consultant with Capgemini, Dasarath, 45, an auto driver from Nanakramguda, and Abdul Hameed, 50, also an auto driver, from Jahanuma in the Old City.

Around 6.30 am, Janardhan Shivaji and his colleague Vikas Pratap Singh disembarked from a Bengaluru-Hyderabad bus at Gachibowli. As soon as they got down from the bus, auto drivers Dasarath and Hameed approached them.

"Janardhan was talking to the auto drivers asking them about the fare to go to Aditya Residency hotel, where they were put up. While Janardhan was talking to the auto drivers, Vikas Pratap Singh was standing with luggage. Suddenly, the RTC bus (AP11Z6172) of HCU depot moving from Lingampally to Koti via Mehdipatnam hit Janardhan, the two auto drivers and Vikas," Raidurgam inspector M Rams Babu said.

Errant driver kills & scoots, later arrested

With critical injuries, Janardhan, Hameed and Dasarath died on the spot. However, Vikas miraculously escaped with minor injuries as he fell in the gap between the front tyres, police said.

At the time of the accident, there were about 30 passengers in the bus (route no - 216), but they did not suffer any injuries. Immediately after the accident, the driver of the bus abandoned the vehicle and fled. Police later arrested the driver, Md Jahangir.

Jahangir told police and RTC officials that the mishap occurred due to brake failure. However, by looking at the crime scene and after examination of the bus, brake failure angle was ruled out.

“The driver was not under the influence of alcohol. We suspect the accident occurred due to negligence and rash driving. Driver claimed the mishap occurred due to brake failure, but when RTC officials examined the vehicle they found that the brakes were fine,” assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Madhapur, N Shyam Prasad Rao said.

Jahangir was booked under Sections 304-A (causing death due to rash or negligent act) and 337 (causing injuries due to rash or negligent act) of the IPC and he was produced before court for judicial remand.