VIP vehicles drivers told not to exceed 80 km/hr

HYDERABAD: Drivers of VVIPs including those who drive escort vehicles have been directed not to exceed the speed limit beyond 80 km/hr. These instructions came in wake of the mishap involving the escort vehicle of governor ESL Narasimhan at Moinabad on Thursday, in which the driver Anand Babu was killed and six more police personnel suffered injuries.Sources told Express that following the accident, strict instructions have been given to drivers of all VVIPs, including those in the chief minister’s convoy not to go beyond 80 km/hr, even if personal aides of the VVIPs insist otherwise.Meanwhile at the accident site, all that remained was a smashed block of granite, a bent electric pole which the Tata Sumo hit and tyre marks which showed the impact.The last rites of Anand Babu was performed on Friday with a host of dignitaries visiting his house at Chatrinaka in the Old City.Anand, whom his colleagues say was a welltrained and seasoned driver, had previously driven escort vehicles in the convoy of the chief minister, Home minister and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Though he was a regular constable, because of his ITI background, Anand had worked as a mechanic in Armed Reserve for several years before joining duty as an escort vehicle driver.“It was Anand who taught me how to handle a tool and trained me in learning about the vehicle,” said Ramakrishna, a Home Guard and Anand’s colleague. Many of his colleagues broke down while taking part in the funeral procession. For Vinod, Anand stood as surety for his marriage. “I just cannot forget that moment,” he recalled with tears.