Andhra Pradesh: Minibus rams stationary lorry, 8 pilgrims killed

Nellore: In a ghastly road accident, eight pilgrims, including five women, were killed and six other injured when the mini-bus in which they were travelling rammed a stationary lorry at Damaramadugu village in Buchireddypalem mandal in the district on Sunday.

Police said that a group of 16 persons, belonging to Tamil Nadu state, were on pilgrimage. After visiting the hill shrine Srisailam, they were going to Nellore. The minibus rammed a stationary lorry at a petrol filling station, killing seven persons instantaneously while another person died on the way to hospital.

The front portion of the ill-fated minibus turned to be an iron mangle under the impact of the collision. The deceased were identified as Jagadish, Padmini, Nandakumar, Revati, Sujata, Asha, Devi and Gurnadha Reddy (driver of the vehicles). Police said that the driver of the vehicle was drowsy at the steering wheel which led to the accident.

Circle Inspector Suresh Babu rushed to the place and shifted the injured to the hospital and cleared the traffic after removing the ill-fated vehicles. A case was registered and the bodies were shifted to the government hospital for post-mortem.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan expressed shock and anguish at the accident. In a message here on Sunday he expressed profound grief over the road accident and offered his heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, in another accident, three persons were killed and six persons were injured when the auto rickshaw in which they were travelling collided with a lorry at Vadlamannadu village in Gudlavalleru mandal in Krishna district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as J Nancharaiah, J Venkanna and M Shiva. (UNI)