The conductor, identified as Gundla Pravalika, died at a hospital in Hyderabad late on Tuesday after battling severe injuries. According to police, her legs were crushed after she fell beneath the rear wheels of the moving bus.
Argument Over Bus Fare and Change Led to Dispute
According to police inspector Ch Yellaiah, the incident occurred when a woman passenger named Mounika boarded the bus along with her son. She reportedly claimed that she was eligible for free travel under a government transport scheme.
However, Pravalika maintained that the passenger’s son was required to purchase a regular ticket based on his age. Following the disagreement, Mounika agreed to buy a full ticket worth ₹10 for her son.
The situation reportedly escalated when Mounika handed Pravalika a ₹100 currency note and demanded the remaining ₹90 immediately. The conductor, who did not have sufficient change at that moment, asked the passenger to collect the balance while getting off the bus.
This response allegedly triggered a heated exchange between the two. During the altercation, Mounika is accused of pushing Pravalika out of the moving vehicle on October 25.
The conductor fell onto the road and came beneath the bus’s rear wheels, resulting in devastating injuries, particularly to her legs.
Conductor Shifted to Hyderabad for Treatment
Following the incident, Pravalika was rushed to a hospital in Hyderabad for emergency medical treatment. Her condition was critical because of the severity of her injuries.
Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar was among those who visited her at the hospital to enquire about her health and treatment.
Despite receiving medical attention, Pravalika succumbed to her injuries late on Tuesday. Her death has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by bus conductors and other frontline transport employees during their daily responsibilities.
Transport Corporation Assures Strict Action
The death of the young conductor prompted a response from senior officials of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, TGSRTC vice-chairman and managing director Y Nagireddy expressed concern over the incident. The corporation had earlier hoped that Pravalika would recover from her injuries and return to duty after completing her treatment.
Nagireddy strongly condemned attacks against transport employees and assured that strict measures would be taken against the woman allegedly responsible for the incident.
He emphasised that violence against RTC staff members while they are carrying out their official responsibilities would not be tolerated. He also stated that the corporation would take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The TGSRTC managing director also contacted the Superintendent of Police of Bhadradri Kothagudem district to discuss the matter. He assured that the corporation would extend all possible assistance to Pravalika’s family during this difficult period.
RTC Employees Demand Justice for Pravalika
The incident has also triggered anger among transport workers, with the RTC workers’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) demanding justice for Pravalika and her family.
The committee called for a shutdown of bus depots across the Khammam region as a mark of protest against the incident. It demanded stringent action against the passenger allegedly involved in pushing the conductor from the moving bus.
The JAC also highlighted the challenges faced by bus drivers and conductors, who regularly interact with passengers and sometimes encounter aggressive behaviour while carrying out their duties.
According to the committee, ensuring the safety of transport employees must become a priority, particularly for frontline staff members who are responsible for managing ticketing, passenger assistance and other operational duties.
Safety of Public Transport Employees Comes Under Focus
Pravalika’s death has once again highlighted the importance of workplace safety for public transport employees. Conductors and drivers regularly deal with different types of passenger disputes, including disagreements over fares, tickets, travel concessions and other services.
Although such disagreements are part of everyday public transport operations, they should never turn into physical confrontations that threaten the lives of employees.
The incident also raises questions about the protection available to frontline transport workers when they face threatening or violent behaviour from passengers.
With the transport corporation promising assistance to the victim’s family and strict action against the accused, employees are demanding stronger safeguards to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.
The death of the 24-year-old conductor has left the transport workforce demanding accountability and better protection for those who serve passengers every day.