Speeding car falls off newly-inaugurated Biodiversity flyover in Hyderabad, one dead

The flyover, situated in the heart of the city’s IT sector, was inaugurated earlier this month by Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao.

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A major accident took place in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli area on Saturday after a speeding car travelling on the newly-opened Biodiversity flyover lost control and fell off the bridge, damaging two cars underneath the flyover. A woman was killed, while six others were injured in the incident.

The Biodiversity junction is an arterial road in the city’s IT sector and several lakh vehicles pass through it everyday. The incident took place at 1.19 pm. Soon after the accident, many took to social media to complain about the design of the flyover, with its steep ascent and sharp curve, along with a lack of signages.

According to police, the driver of the red Volkswagen GTI was speeding and lost control as the flyover has a steep turn. The driver, who has been identified as Milan, has survived the crash after air bags were deployed on impact. The victim has been identified as Satyaveni, who was with her daughter at the time of the accident. Her daughter, however, escaped with minor injuries.

Speaking to TNM, Madhapur DCP, A Venkateswara Rao said, "The car was traveling at a high speed, and it lost control. As a result it went and hit the flyover's railing and fell off the flyover. A woman who was waiting under the flyover for a bus was crushed by the car." He also added, "In the accident a couple of new cars which were parked outside Nisan showroom were also damaged."

A statement put out by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad states that the car was speeding, traveling at 104kmph. “On preliminary investigation, it is found out that the accident was due to the OVERSPEEDING car at 104 kmph instead of prescribed 40 kmph on the flyover,” reads the statement.

CCTV visuals from the flyover shows the car traveling at high speed crashing into the wall of the flyover, before it falls over and lands on the road below.

Those injured were rushed to Care Hospital, located less than a kilometre from the accident spot. While two of those injured were shifted to another hospital, four others who suffered minor injuries were given first-aid and later discharged.

Following the accident, the flyover has been temporarily closed down.

This is the second major accident to take place on the flyover since it was inaugurated on November 4 by Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao.

On November 10, a software employee from Cognizant, who was reportedly in an inebriated condition, killed two people and injured four persons after he rammed his car into two vehicles before knocking down two persons who were taking selfies after stopping their bike on the flyover.

The 990-meter long flyover is a one-way, and begins at the DivyaSree Orion SEZ and ends after the Biodiversity Junction, heading towards IKEA. It is part of the state government's Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP) and was constructed at a cost of Rs 69.47 crore.

Another unidirectional flyover is also being constructed, that begins close to the Cyberabad Commissionerate office, which will allow commuters travelling towards Tolichowki and Mehdipatnam, to skip the Biodiversity junction.

The police also issued an advisory following the accident, stating pedestrians are not allowed on the flyover, the maximum speed limit is 40 kmph, nobody should stand or stop on the flyover for selfies and other dangerous activities, people should follow lane discipline and not overtake at curves.