“I stand firmly by my statement that drunk drivers are terrorists in every sense. They destroy lives, families, and futures. Such acts will never be tolerated,” he said.
Sajjanar warned that the Hyderabad police would show no leniency to anyone caught driving under the influence.
“Every single person caught driving drunk will face the full force of the law. There will be no leniency, no exceptions, and no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives,” he said.“It’s time we, as a society, stop calling drunk driving a mistake. It is a crime that shatters lives and must be punished accordingly.”
‘Preventable carnage’
The Kurnool investigation has confirmed that the biker, Shiva Shankar, and his pillion rider, Erri Swamy, had consumed alcohol before the crash. The two were returning home after dinner and drinks at a dhaba when tragedy struck.
Police said Shankar lost control of his motorcycle, hit a divider, and died instantly. Moments later, a Hyderabad–Bengaluru sleeper bus ran over the fallen bike, dragging it for several metres. The bike’s fuel tank burst, setting the bus on fire and trapping passengers inside.
Nineteen people, including two children, were burnt alive, while 27 others escaped through shattered windows.
Calling the accident a wake-up call, Sajjanar said the tragedy should ignite a national reckoning on drunk driving.
“It’s time to stop forgiving the unforgivable. A drunk driver behind the wheel is no different from a terrorist with a weapon — both destroy lives without warning,” he said.
A Senior Associate Editor with more than 30 years in the media, Stephen N.R. curates, edits and publishes impactful stories for Gulf News — both in print and online — focusing on Middle East politics, student issues and explainers on global topics.
Stephen has spent most of his career in journalism, working behind the scenes — shaping headlines, editing copy and putting together newspaper pages with precision.
For the past many years, he has brought that same dedication to the Gulf News digital team, where he curates stories, crafts explainers and helps keep both the web and print editions sharp and engaging.
