Reacting to the tragic loss of 20 lives in an Andhra Pradesh bus inferno, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. S. Sajjanar has equated drunk drivers to ‘terrorists.’ He declared that offenders who put innocent lives at risk through impaired driving will face no leniency and will be prosecuted with the full force of the law.
Sajjanar’s strong statement was made following an accident where a private sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, reportedly intoxicated and involved in an earlier incident, tragically caused the crash, resulting in his death and the deaths of 19 passengers on the bus. The Commissioner firmly attributed the catastrophe to the biker’s intoxication.
He described such incidents as ‘acts of terror on the roads,’ a severe ‘criminal act of negligence,’ and not mere accidents. Sajjanar asserted on social media that the Kurnool bus tragedy, which claimed 20 lives, was a preventable disaster stemming from a drunk biker’s irresponsible actions, describing it as a ‘criminal act of negligence’ that decimated families.
Surveillance footage showed the motorcyclist, Shiva Shankar, refuelling his vehicle just moments before the fatal collision occurred. The commissioner lamented how the driver’s choice to operate a vehicle while drunk transformed a moment of recklessness into a devastating loss of life. Sajjanar reiterated the severe impact of drunk driving, which destroys lives and families, and reaffirmed Hyderabad Police’s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach. He vowed that all drunk driving offenders would face the full legal consequences, emphasizing that it is a serious crime deserving of stringent punishment.
Authorities have initiated a case against the deceased biker for reckless driving. The pillion rider survived with minor injuries. Investigations suggest both individuals had been drinking before embarking on their journey. The investigation into the bus fire points to exploding lithium-ion batteries from a significant consignment of smartphones as a major factor. The initial impact with the motorcycle is thought to have caused a fuel leak that ignited, leading to the devastating blaze. The bus driver and assistant are currently detained, facing charges of negligence and speeding under new legal statutes.
