Following a horrific bus fire that claimed 20 lives in Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. S. Sajjanar has issued a stern declaration: ‘drunk drivers are terrorists.’ His impassioned statement warns that those who drive under the influence will face severe consequences for imperiling innocent lives.
The commissioner’s strong words came in the wake of a tragic incident involving a Hyderabad-Bengaluru private sleeper bus. The bus collided with a motorcycle, which had reportedly been involved in a prior accident. This collision resulted in the death of the motorcyclist and 19 passengers on the bus. Sajjanar stated that the motorcyclist was intoxicated at the time, directly causing the fatal crash.
He vehemently described such behavior as ‘acts of terror on the roads’ and ‘criminal negligence.’ On social media, he emphasized that the Kurnool bus accident, resulting in 20 fatalities, was not a mere accident but a ‘preventable massacre’ caused by a drunk biker’s recklessness. He asserted that this was a criminal act of negligence that destroyed families in moments.
CCTV footage revealed the motorcyclist, identified as B. Shiva Shankar, refueling his bike just minutes before the collision. The commissioner highlighted how the biker’s decision to drive drunk transformed arrogance into a tragedy of immense proportions. Sajjanar stressed that drunk drivers annihilate lives, families, and futures, and affirmed the Hyderabad Police’s unwavering zero-tolerance policy. Offenders will encounter the full extent of the law with no leniency, as drink-driving is a crime shattering lives, not a mistake.
Police have filed charges of reckless driving against Shiva Shankar, who died at the scene. The pillion rider sustained minor injuries. Reports indicate the pair had consumed alcohol before their journey. The deadly fire onboard the bus is believed to have been exacerbated by the explosion of lithium-ion batteries from a consignment of 234 smartphones. The initial impact with the motorcycle caused a fuel leak that ignited, creating an inferno that consumed the bus. The bus driver and assistant are in custody, facing charges of negligence and overspeeding.