BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy went viral on Tuesday after insisting that bad roads would ensure fewer accidents. He also lambasted the previous BRS government in Telangana for creating “good and sharp” roads. Nineteen people were killed and over 30 suffered injuries on Monday after a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a government bus in Ranga Reddy district.

“Nowadays, if the roads are in bad condition, fewer accidents happen because vehicles move slowly. The better the roads, the bigger and more frequent the accidents,” Reddy remarked during a press conference.

Reddy said the Chevella road was constructed during the Nizam era and then rulers used it to go to Ananthagiri Hills during summer times. The same crooked road — despite being in bad condition — was still being used. He further said that when he became MP for the first time, he requested the then BRS government to repair the road. However, things did not move. The BJP MP said later he requested Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to make it a national highway and it became one in 2016. An appropriate Gazette notification was also issued.

Reddy said eight other National Highways which were announced along with Hyderabad-Bijapur NH have already been completed.

“The BRS government (then TRS) did not complete the land acquisition. Why? Is it real estate hunger?,” he asked attacking the BRS. For five years the land acquisition was not completed.

Fatal roads

Nineteen people were killed and thirty others were injured on Monday after a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a government bus. The Telangana government had announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the state and Rs 2 lakh from TGSRTC, totalling Rs 7 lakh for each deceased victim’s family. Officials confirmed that an additional Rs 2 lakh will be given to each injured person.

“Several people were buried under the gravel. The tipper lorry came from the opposite direction. I was seated on the left side of the bus. We managed to climb out, but those who were sitting behind the driver couldn’t make it — some of them died. I was seated three rows behind the conductor,” a survivor told the media.