Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Nov 4: A 24-year-old Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus conductor, who was allegedly pushed off a moving bus by a woman passenger during an argument over change last month, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital on Tuesday night, police said.
The incident occurred in Aswapuram mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on October 25, when the woman passenger was travelling with her son.
An argument initially broke out between the passenger and conductor Pravallika over purchasing a ticket for her son. The passenger subsequently bought the ticket by paying Rs 100, but another dispute arose when she demanded that the conductor return the balance immediately.
Police said Pravallika asked the passenger to collect the change while getting off the bus. However, the woman insisted on receiving it immediately.
During the argument, the passenger allegedly pushed the conductor off the moving bus. Pravallika fell onto the road and sustained injuries to her legs after coming under the rear wheel of the vehicle.
She was initially admitted to a local hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment. However, she died at around 11 pm on Tuesday while undergoing treatment, a senior police official said.
The woman passenger was arrested and sent to judicial remand after a case was registered against her.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar expressed condolences over the conductor's death.
The chief minister said the government would extend support to the deceased conductor's family, according to an official release.
Prabhakar said the government had arranged advanced medical treatment for Pravallika in Hyderabad and had hoped for her recovery. He added that strict action was being taken against those responsible.
The minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the conductor's family, a government job for her mother and a house under the Indiramma housing scheme for the poor.