Published Nov 04, 2026 | 3:30 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 04, 2026 | 3:30 PM
Pravalika fell under the bus' rear wheels, which ran over her legs, leaving her critically injured.
Synopsis: G Pravalika, a 24-year-old TGSRTC conductor, died in a Hyderabad hospital on 3 November, ten days after a passenger allegedly pushed her off a moving bus following an argument over a ticket in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Police have altered the case against the arrested passenger, Mounika, from attempted murder to murder, while the state has announced ₹10 lakh in ex-gratia assistance.
G Pravalika, a 24-year-old conductor with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), died during treatment at a Hyderabad hospital on Tuesday night, 3 November, ten days after a passenger allegedly pushed her off a moving bus during an argument over a ticket in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Pravalika worked at the Manuguru depot. The incident occurred near Mittagudem in Aswapuram mandal on 25 October, when the bus she was working on was travelling from Manuguru to Bhadrachalam on a Palle Velugu service. The passenger, Mounika, had given her a ₹100 note for her son’s half ticket, which cost ₹10. As Pravalika did not have change, she asked Mounika to collect the remaining ₹90 later.
When Mounika subsequently demanded the money and Pravalika said she still could not return it, an argument broke out. Mounika allegedly pushed the conductor off the moving bus. Pravalika fell under its rear wheels, which ran over her legs, leaving her critically injured.
She was initially taken to the Government Area Hospital in Bhadrachalam and later shifted to Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, Hyderabad for further treatment.
Mounika was arrested soon after the incident. Police initially registered an attempt-to-murder case against her. Following Pravalika’s death, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the case had been altered to murder.
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Ponnam visited the Osmania General Hospital mortuary on Wednesday, along with TGSRTC Managing Director Y Nagireddy, to pay his respects and offer condolences to Pravalika’s mother. He announced ₹10 lakh in ex-gratia assistance from the government and TGSRTC, an Indiramma house, a government job for her mother and a ₹1 crore accident insurance payout for the family.
In posts on X, the minister said Pravalika had received better medical care at Sai Sanjeevani Hospital and that he had hoped she would recover and return to work. He said strict action was being taken against those responsible.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also expressed shock over her death and assured the family of all support.
Ponnam directed officials to take action against anyone assaulting TGSRTC employees while they were on duty. He also cautioned passengers against taking matters into their own hands, asking those with complaints against RTC staff to approach senior officials instead.
The incident triggered protests by TGSRTC employees across the Khammam region on Wednesday, with drivers and conductors staying off work. Bus services at seven depots in the old undivided Khammam district were affected until the afternoon.
Employees wearing black badges staged a protest at the Khammam depot under the leadership of the TGSRTC Khammam Region Joint Action Committee (JAC).
They demanded that the accused be punished to the full extent of the law and that stronger safeguards be put in place to protect drivers and conductors while on duty.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
