14 killed, 4 injured in van and truck collision in Andhra
Kurnool: At least 14 people were killed and four others were critically injured, when a tempo traveller van which they were travelling in collided with a truck on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru national highway (NH-44) in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district. The accident took place near the Madhapuram village of the Veldurthi block. The van, which was carrying 18 people, hit the road divider at a high speed, jumped over the divider and collided with a truck.
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Feb. 14: Tragedy struck a group of pilgrims on their way to Ajmer Dargah as 14 of them, including eight women and a child, were killed and four injured in a road mishap in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh early on Sunday, the police said.
The accident occurred when a mini-bus in which the victims, all relatives and hailing from Madanapalle in Chittoor district of the state, were travelling collided with a lorry at Madapuram around 4 am, Kurnool district superintendent of police K.Fakirappa said.
The passengers were on their way to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in
Rajasthan, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradeh chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy were among those who expressed sorrow over the loss of lives.
Mr Reddy announced an ex-gratia of `2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and `1 lakh to the injured.
Preliminary investigation suggested the driver apparently lost control and the bus first crashed into the road median, rolled to the other side and hit the lorry, the SP told PTI.
Only four children survived the crash and all had been admitted to a hospital where the condition of one of them was stated to be critical, he said.
“The accident might have been be due to over speeding of the mini bus or its driver might have been drowsy. Fourteen people died on the spot and another four (injured) were shifted to hospital. One of the children is said to be in a critical condition,” the police official added.
Kurnool collector G. Veerapandiansaid the administration would also examine if there was any defect in the vehicle.
A tweet posted on PMO India handle said: “The road accident in Andhra Pradeshs Kurnool district is saddening. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I hope that the injured recover at the earliest: PM.”