A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! (Part 2)
Episode - 9
Part - 2
It was then that I stepped into the world of reality. The serious repercussions of my not leaving seeped into my being. What would happen to the function. I was not only supposed to coordinate but also compere and act as the host. I had to resort to fire fighting and make alternative arrangements, immediately, I called up the Endowments Commissioner, Mr.Chandramouli Reddy, at Hyderabad and requested him to conduct the 'Ugadi' programme on my behalf. He was taken by surprise. Though he was polite in his response, there was a streak of annoyance and irritation in his tone. He asked me whether I had any specific personal problem. I explained in embarrassment as to what had happened.
Part - 2
It was then that I stepped into the world of reality. The serious repercussions of my not leaving seeped into my being. What would happen to the function. I was not only supposed to coordinate but also compere and act as the host. I had to resort to fire fighting and make alternative arrangements, immediately, I called up the Endowments Commissioner, Mr.Chandramouli Reddy, at Hyderabad and requested him to conduct the 'Ugadi' programme on my behalf. He was taken by surprise. Though he was polite in his response, there was a streak of annoyance and irritation in his tone. He asked me whether I had any specific personal problem. I explained in embarrassment as to what had happened.
Mr.Chandramouli Reddy commented, "Prasad, if the Chief Minister were to ask why Prasad had not turned up, how could I tell him that he did not have the mood to come?" He suggested that I leave Tirupati by road and reach Hyderabad the next morning. But as strange feeling deep within me stood in the way of my making it to Hyderabad. I, therefore, pleaded with him once again,
"Sir, manage somehow , I do not feel like leaving the place. I cannot explain why." He cautioned me. "Don't act on instincts and impulses. This is a very important function and you have a very major and crucial role to play in making the function a success. I may oblige you by substituting. Still, I suggest that you leave by road immediately and catch up with the function".
"Sir, manage somehow , I do not feel like leaving the place. I cannot explain why." He cautioned me. "Don't act on instincts and impulses. This is a very important function and you have a very major and crucial role to play in making the function a success. I may oblige you by substituting. Still, I suggest that you leave by road immediately and catch up with the function".
Despite the Endowments Commissioner's advice, I remained unfocused. "Damn it; what is happening? Why am I not leaving for Hyderabad? Why am I behaving in such an irrational and irresponsible manner", I said to myself. Still, I would not budge. Time was running out. The camp clerk's anxiety had turned into disbelief and curiosity as he had never seen me like that transfixed to my chair. I remained in a state of perplexed inactivity.
The camp clerk jolted me out of my confused, wakeful slumber by saying "Sir, some one has telephoned to say that he has just seen a bus from Tirumala ramming through the ghat road parapet wall and hurtling down into the valley in between two turnings. The man says he is telephoning even as he is witnessing the accident". The news stunned me. But the next moment, I realized the implications and the enormous work that lay ahead of me. Praying to Lord Srinivasa, I plunged into action at lightening speed. As a reflex action, I rushed to the car to leave for the spot. But, some inner voice asked me to alert all the concerned about rescue and relief operations before I left. I rushed back to my telephone. It being a Sunday, offices remain closed. I personally called up over phone some important officials - Deputy Executive Officers and Officers of the concerned departments like transport, engineering, mechanical , administration , hospital , ambulance, security, police, and fire service. All the three telephones in the camp office were kept busy and in a few minutes I managed to alert all. I asked the police to bring in wireless sets for communicating urgent messages even as I started with two cars in tow. (There were no cell phones those days).
Never had I seen such a disaster. The old ghat road, used for buses and other vehicles coming down, has more than 40 turnings or curves. The difference in the altitude between the top and the bottom of some of the curves is up to 50 feet.
The scene at the ghat road curve, where the accident took place, was ghastly and heart rending. The bus rammed into the parapet wall, capsized , hurtled down and rested on a hill slope, with tree branches arresting its downward ride. The bus was smashed and its windows and doors were crushed and dented. Three or four pilgrims were struggling to extricate themselves through windows. To reach the bus, one had to walk down or climb up about 50 feet through bushes, tree and boulders. Already, passengers and drivers of few buses and cars behind the fateful bus were helping some of the injured. Five or six injured were lying on the road, surrounded by a group of passengers.
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Now we may get a idea about why Sri.Prasad couldn't leave for the airport but is it some higher power that may have stopped him from leaving to Hyderabad, for the situation that was about to occur in future?? and what had happened later , please read in the upcoming episode 10, "A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 3" to be published on 28th Jan 2017.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Now we may get a idea about why Sri.Prasad couldn't leave for the airport but is it some higher power that may have stopped him from leaving to Hyderabad, for the situation that was about to occur in future?? and what had happened later , please read in the upcoming episode 10, "A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 3" to be published on 28th Jan 2017.
10."A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 3"
28th Jan 2017
28th Jan 2017