Mechanic crushed to death under RTC bus at Jeedimetla depot

A 45-year-old mechanic died on Tuesday after being crushed under a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus at the Jeedimetla depot in Hyderabad. The incident took place in the morning when the victim, identified as M. Raju, was carrying out repair work on a stationary bus.

According to police, the bus suddenly moved forward while Raju was underneath it, pinning him to the ground. Fellow workers rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead. The exact cause of the bus's movement is yet to be established.

Sequence of events

Preliminary investigations suggest that Raju had been assigned to fix a mechanical issue in the bus's undercarriage. He had crawled beneath the vehicle when, for reasons still unclear, the bus lurched forward, crushing him.

Depot staff raised an alarm, and the vehicle was immediately stopped. Emergency responders and colleagues pulled Raju out from under the bus, but he had sustained severe injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was taken to a government hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police response

The Jeedimetla police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of causing death by negligence. A senior police officer said that the bus driver and other depot officials are being questioned to determine how the vehicle moved.

Sources said the bus was parked in the depot's maintenance bay at the time. Initial inquiries point to a possible mechanical failure or human error, but officials have not yet confirmed either theory. The bus has been seized for forensic examination.

Worker safety concerns

The death has once again raised questions about safety protocols at TSRTC depots across the state. Mechanics and other staff often work under vehicles without adequate blocking mechanisms, a practice that has led to similar accidents in the past.

Union leaders have demanded a thorough probe and compensation for the victim's family. Raju is survived by his wife and two children, who were informed of the tragedy later in the day. The TSRTC management has announced an ex gratia payment, but the amount has not been disclosed.

What happens next

The investigation is ongoing, and police are expected to submit a report to the court in the coming days. The TSRTC has ordered an internal inquiry to review safety measures at its depots.

Watch for whether the findings lead to stricter guidelines for maintenance work, and whether the victim's family receives adequate financial relief.