The Andhra Pradesh government has moved swiftly to impose a night-time travel ban on ghat roads in agency and forest regions after the tragic bus accident in the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district. The decision followed a devastating incident in which a private bus carrying pilgrims lost control on a sharply curved ghat stretch shrouded in thick fog, plunging into a roadside ditch and killing nine passengers while injuring many others. Early assessments highlighted dense fog, steep gradients, narrow roads and poor visibility as major contributing factors.
In the wake of the accident, the government ordered an immediate halt to all vehicular movement during night hours on these risky hill routes. The ban applies to private buses, heavy goods carriers, cars and all other vehicle categories, with officials instructed to ensure no travel is permitted during fog-prone hours. Agencies have been directed to map accident-prone stretches, install additional warning signage and verify that only highly experienced drivers with special licences operate on these routes once restrictions ease.
Police and transport enforcement teams have begun intensified checks to ensure compliance with the new safety protocols. Alongside these preventive steps, the state announced ex gratia compensation for the families of the deceased and pledged full medical support for the injured.
Authorities emphasised that the night-time travel ban will remain in place until weather and visibility conditions improve sufficiently to guarantee safer movement. Ghat roads in the ASR district and other agency zones are known for sharp bends, narrow corridors and steep slopes, all of which become significantly more dangerous in low-visibility conditions.
Reaffirming the government’s approach, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said that safeguarding lives is the administration’s foremost responsibility. She added that strict enforcement and enhanced safety measures on ghat roads are now mandatory priorities to prevent any further loss of life.
