Nine dead in two separate accidents on Hyderabad-Bidar road
At least nine people were killed in two separate multi-vehicle collisions on the Hyderabad-Bidar road in Zaheerabad on Tuesday night, causing severe traffic disruption and prompting an investigation by local police.
The first accident occurred around 8 p.m. near the Mahindra & Mahindra facility on the Zaheerabad-Bidar road, where a lorry, a tanker, and an autorickshaw collided, resulting in the deaths of seven people. Police said the circumstances leading to the collision are yet to be ascertained, and a detailed investigation is underway to determine the sequence of events.
In a second, separate accident within the limits of Kohir police station in Zaheerabad, two people were killed and two others injured when an Ertiga vehicle, travelling towards Hyderabad, allegedly jumped the road divider and collided with vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
According to Zaheerabad Town CI Ravi, the Ertiga was allegedly attempting to overtake another car when it crossed the divider and first struck another Ertiga before crashing into an Innova travelling in the opposite direction. The two occupants of the first Ertiga died in the collision. One of the deceased was identified as Mallikarjun, an employee of MRF. The two injured persons were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
The accidents brought traffic on the Zaheerabad-Bidar road to a standstill, with vehicles backed up for nearly five kilometres as police and emergency personnel cleared the wreckage and managed the flow of traffic. Authorities worked for several hours to restore normal movement on the highway.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether weather, visibility, or road conditions contributed to the crashes. Police are collecting statements from witnesses and examining the vehicles involved to establish the exact causes. Legal proceedings will follow based on the findings of the investigation.
The twin tragedies highlight ongoing concerns about road safety on this stretch of the Hyderabad-Bidar highway, which sees significant commercial and passenger traffic. Local authorities have previously recorded accidents in the area, prompting calls for better road infrastructure, stricter enforcement of traffic rules, and increased awareness among drivers.
The families of the deceased have been informed, and further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses. The injured are reported to be in stable condition.