Seven people were killed and six others injured after a private bus collided with an auto-rickshaw near Kala Mandir Junction here in Palnadu district on Thursday, police said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and grief over the deaths. He urged authorities to provide immediate and the best possible medical treatment to all those injured. The former chief minister also called for a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the accident and stronger road safety measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The incident occurred around 1 am when the private bus heading to Tirupati reached the bypass near Chilakaluripet to board a passenger, according to Narasaraopet Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) M Hanumanth Rao. The auto turned on the wrong side of the road into the path of the bus, which was travelling at around 40 kmph, the DSP added.
After picking up the passenger, the bus proceeded towards the Narasaraopet bus stand when it hit an auto-rickshaw near Kala Mandir Junction, he said. “Seven people were killed and six others injured in the collision in Palnadu district,” Rao told PTI. YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy described the loss of lives as “heartbreaking”, saying the fact that all victims belonged to the same village made the incident more painful.
A case was registered relating to causing death by rash or negligent driving. Officials informed CM Naidu that the deceased were from Veluru village in Chilakaluripet mandal and that those who sustained serious injuries were shifted to Guntur General Hospital for treatment. The Chief Minister directed officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured and continuously monitor their health condition.
Four people died on the spot, while three others succumbed to injuries in the hospital, said Rao.
