Vinukonda Bus Stand Stampede Sparks Panic, Injures Several

A chaotic scene unfolded at the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus stand in Vinukonda on Monday as travellers returning from the Sankranti festival holidays rushed to board buses, resulting in a stampede that left three passengers seriously injured .

According to officials, the bus stand was unusually crowded as people attempted to return to their workplaces and destinations following the festive break. The situation took a dangerous turn when an APSRTC bus bound for Vijayawada pulled up at the platform. Eager passengers surged toward the bus to secure seats, leading to a sudden and uncontrollable stampede.

In the chaos, several commuters were pushed and trampled. Chirathala Esther Rani , a resident of Endapalli village in Pullala Cheruvu Mandal; Parimi Koteswaramma from Nagireddypalli in Nuzendla Mandal; and Bellamkonda Chinna Venkaiah of Vellaturu village in Bollapalli Mandal were identified among the injured. All three were rushed to a private hospital in Vinukonda, where doctors described their condition as serious but stable.

Police and depot officials quickly intervened to bring the situation under control. Measures were taken to manage the crowds and ensure that the traffic flow in and around the bus stand was not impeded.

Commuters expressed concern over inadequate crowd management and the lack of sufficient services to handle the heavy post‑holiday travel demand. Many urged APSRTC authorities to deploy additional buses and stronger crowd‑control measures during peak travel periods to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in managing public transport demand during festival seasons, despite APSRTC running thousands of special services during peak periods like Sankranti.

Authorities have said they will review the procedures at major bus terminals to improve safety and avoid repeat occurrences.