Providential escape for Errabelli

Jangaon: A snag that was developed in the air conditioning system of the ill-fated car that turned turtle killing two persons reportedly saved the Minister for Panchayat Raj Errabelli Dayakar Rao on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

It was a providential escape for the minister who opted to shift to another car from the ill-fated bullet proof official vehicle somewhere near Bhongir just an hour before the mishap took place.

It is learnt that the bullet proof official vehicle (Land Cruiser Prado car number TS 09 PA 0571) which was used by the Minister T Harish Rao in the previous TRS government was allotted to Errabelli Dayakar Rao.

Ever since it came to Errabelli's possession, the car has been prone to repairs.

After repairs, the car rejoined the minister's convoy on Saturday. On the first day itself, the AC of the car developed a snag which forced Errabelli to shift to another car on his way to Palakurthy.

The minister had even told the Armed Reserve constable Parthasarathy (42) who was driving the car to follow his vehicle cautiously, it is learnt.

The car turned turtle when it reached Cheeturu village under Lingala Ghanpur mandal in Jangaon district at around midnight killing minister's social media in-charge Tangellapally Poornender (27) and Parthasarathy.

Three others - gunman Naresh, personal assistant Shiva and attender Tata Rao who were in the car sustained grievous injuries in the mishap.

While Tata Rao was shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad, the others were treated at the Area Hospital in Jangaon.

The incident occurred when the minister was heading to Palakurthy, his constituency, from Hyderabad, along with his convoy, the police said.

The minister was in the first car, while the ill-fated car was the last in the convoy. The minister was scheduled to attend a local programme on Sunday.

The driver reportedly lost control over the wheel when he was negotiating a turning. Meanwhile, it is learnt that mishap occurred due to tyre burst.

Following the mishap, one of the injured alerted the minister and the escort police. The minister spent whole night at the hospital overseeing treatment.

Later in the day, he attended the funeral of Poornender and Parthasarathy which was conducted with state honours by the police department.

Parthasarathy has been working with the minister for the last four years and is survived by wife Pavani, son Shesha Kaushik, and daughter Srimana.

Poornender who worked with the minister for about one year is survived by wife and two children.