Day after suicide attempt, RTC driver succumbs

Hyderabad: The TSRTC bus driver D Srinivas Reddy who attempted suicide by setting himself on fire in Khammam on Saturday, died on Sunday while undergoing treatment at the DRDO Apollo Hospital under Kanchanbagh police station limits.

He was brought to the Apollo Hospital on Saturday night aroud 10 pm. According to doctors, the driver had 90 per cent burns at that time. He died at 11 am on Sunday while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed at the hospital premises as large number of RTC employees rushed to the hospital after hearing the death news of the driver.

Police obstructed them and allowed some of the leaders into the hospital after discussing with the senior police officials.

Later when they found that employees were gathering in large numbers they started arresting the leaders and RTC staff.

As the news spread that the body of Srinivas Reddy would be shifted to Osmania General Hospital mortuary for postmortem, employees in large numbers started gathering at the hospital.

City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar instructed the senior police officials to deploy the police personnel in large numbers to take care of the situation.

After consultations with the senior police officials, the postmortem was held at the DRDO Apollo Hospital by the government doctors and later amidst tight security the body was shifted to Khammam.

Earlier, leaders of various political parties including Congress leaders V Hanumantha Rao, A Revanth Reddy, BJP State president K Laxman, TJS President M Kodandaram, MRPS founder president Manda Krishna Madiga along with the RTC Joint Action Committee convenor Ashwathama Reddy visited the hospital, consoled his family members and extended their full support to them.

They demanded the State government has to take responsibility for the death of Srinivas Reddy.

Meanwhile, CPI secretary Chada Venkatara Reddy, CPM secretary Thammineni Veerabhadram gave a call for bandh in old Khammam district for Monday.

They said Srinivas Reddy of Ramachandrapuram village in Nalakondapalli mandal of Old Khammam district was depressed after losing his job.