PADERU, ASR DISTRICT: In a devastating incident that unfolded on a Sunday afternoon, two individuals tragically lost their lives, and more than 20 people sustained severe injuries when a state-owned bus veered off the Paderu ghat road, plummeting approximately 80 feet into a valley near a viewpoint under the Paderu Mandal in the ASR district of Andhra Pradesh.

The ill-fated bus had been en route from Chodavaram to Paderu, with the bus driver navigating a treacherous curve. Fortunately, the presence of trees in the hilly terrain acted as a natural barrier, preventing the bus from plunging deeper into the valley.

According to reports, the driver lost control while negotiating the sharp curve and attempted to avoid colliding with a tree branch. In the process, the bus collided with a deteriorating retaining wall, causing it to plummet into the valley.

At the time of the accident, the bus was carrying 48 passengers. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives on the spot, and more than 20 people, including several children, suffered injuries.

Speaking with TOI, Superintendent of Police for ASR district, Tuhin Sinha, confirmed that a total of 22 individuals were admitted to a hospital in Paderu following the incident. He noted that the condition of two of these individuals is critical, and they are set to be transferred to KG Hospital in Vizag city for more advanced treatment. 

The deceased victims were identified as 50-year-old Narayanamma and 55-year-old S Kondanna.

As of now, authorities are actively investigating the precise causes of this tragic accident. Preliminary findings indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating the curve, causing it to swerve to the right and ultimately plunge into the valley. Efforts are underway to collect passenger details from the bus involved in the accident, as Tuhin Sinha confirmed.

A survivor of the incident shared their account, saying, "We do not know what exactly happened. Suddenly, we felt that our bus plunged into a valley. Luckily, the bus came to a halt after it was stuck between big trees. We strongly believe that the trees saved many lives in the incident."

The accident site lacks mobile phone network coverage, creating significant communication challenges for the survivors. However, local authorities successfully rescued the survivors and retrieved the bodies of the deceased from the accident scene, providing some solace in this tragic situation.