The Andhra Pradesh government has imposed a ban on night-time travel along ghat roads in agency and forest areas following a fatal bus accident in the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district that claimed nine lives.
The decision comes after a private bus carrying pilgrims met with a serious accident in the early hours while negotiating a sharp curve on a ghat road. The vehicle reportedly lost control and plunged into a roadside ditch, leaving nine people dead and several others injured. Preliminary findings cited dense fog, sharp bends and poor visibility as major factors behind the crash.
In response, the state government has directed officials to strictly enforce restrictions on vehicle movement during night hours on ghat roads across all agency areas. The ban applies to all categories of vehicles, including private buses, cars and heavy transport vehicles, especially during fog-prone hours when visibility is severely reduced.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that no vehicles operate at night under unsafe visibility conditions. The Home Department has also ordered authorities to identify accident-prone stretches, install warning signboards and ensure that only experienced and specially licensed drivers are allowed to operate vehicles on hill roads.
Police and transport department officials have been asked to conduct regular checks to ensure compliance with safety norms. The government has also announced ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased and assured medical assistance to those injured in the accident.
Senior officials said the restrictions will remain in force until weather conditions improve and visibility becomes safe for travel. Ghat roads in the ASR district and other agency areas are known for steep gradients, narrow stretches and sharp curves, making night travel particularly hazardous.
Reiterating the government’s stance, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said protecting human lives remains the state’s top priority and that officials have been instructed to strictly enforce the night travel ban and implement all necessary safety measures to prevent further loss of life.
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