APSRTC to Pay ₹9 Crore After Supreme Court Ruling on Fatal Bus Accident

The Supreme Court has directed the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) to pay ₹9 crore in compensation to the family of a woman who died after being hit by an RTC bus.

The case traces back to June 13, 2009, when Lakshmi Nagalla, an Indian-origin woman working in the United States, was traveling with her husband and two daughters from Annavaram to Rajahmundry. Their car was struck by an APSRTC bus, leading to Lakshmi's death. In response, her husband, Shyam Prasad Nagalla, filed a case before the Secunderabad Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, seeking ₹9 crore in compensation.

In 2014, after reviewing the arguments, the tribunal ordered APSRTC to pay ₹8.05 crore to the victim's family. However, APSRTC challenged this ruling in the Telangana High Court, which reduced the compensation to ₹5.75 crore. Dissatisfied with the reduced amount, Lakshmi’s husband appealed to the Supreme Court.

During the proceedings, he informed the court that his wife held a Master’s degree in Computer Science and was a permanent resident of the United States, earning $11,600 per month. He argued that the compensation should be increased to ₹9 crore, considering her financial contributions and future potential earnings.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra heard the case and ruled in favor of the victim’s family. The court directed APSRTC to pay ₹9,64,52,220 as compensation.