Hyderabad, July 22 (IANS) A Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus was stolen by a man before police intercepted the vehicle after a hot chase in Jagtial district on Tuesday.
Police vehicles chased the bus for 18 kilometres before the thief was caught after officers blocked the highway.
The bizarre incident occurred in the town of Korutla. According to RTC employees, a man entered the bus parked at the TGSRTC bus stand and drove it away towards Nizamabad.
The RTC employees immediately alerted the police. Police and RTC staff in their vehicles started chasing the bus, triggering panic among motorists.
The thief hit three two-wheelers at different places, injuring the riders. At one point, the bus also hit a police vehicle, causing minor damage.
According to eyewitnesses, students boarding a private bus in Metpalli town had a narrow escape as the stolen bus sped dangerously close to them.
Police personnel chasing the bus alerted the staff at Ibrahimpatnam Police Station, who parked vehicles to block the highway. Finding no way to escape, the thief rammed the bus into a roadside tree. He tried to flee but was apprehended by policemen.
Police were questioning the man, whose motive was not known.
This is the second such incident in the state this month. On July 9, a TGSRTC-hired bus was stolen in the town of Jangaon.
The owner of the hired bus had lodged a complaint after his vehicle went missing from the RTC bus stand area. The thief travelled 21 kilometres before losing control at the Singarajpalle Toll Plaza and hitting a roadside divider.
The man, identified as Venkanna, revealed that after an argument at home, he consumed alcohol and went to Jangaon Railway Station to travel to Tirupati. With no trains available at night, he went to the bus stand, entered a parked bus and fell asleep. On waking up, he found the keys and drove the bus away.
–IANS
ms/dan