Nine pilgrims died, and 23 others were injured when a private travel bus fell into a gorge in Alluri Sitharamaraju district in the early hours of Friday.
The accident occurred on the Chintur-Naredumilli ghat road when the driver apparently failed to negotiate a sharp turn and hit the safety wall before it fell into the gorge.
The bus carrying 37 people, including two drivers, was heading to Bhadrachalam. The passengers were all from the Chittoor district who were on their way to the Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana from Araku.
The victims were on a pilgrimage tour to various temples in north Andhra and neighbouring Telangana.
As there was no mobile phone network coverage in the area where the accident occurred, it took some time for the information to reach the police.
Police rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Nine bodies were recovered from the accident spot. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Chintur. The condition of five of the injured was stated to be critical, and they were shifted to a hospital at Bhadrachalam.
Five police vehicles and three ambulances were pressed into service to shift the injured.
Police suspect that poor visibility due to dense fog in the region may have led to the tragedy. The driver was not familiar with the roads in the region, and officials believe that he could not control the vehicle at the curve.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the accident. He spoke to officials about the rescue and relief operations. He directed them to ensure the best treatment for the injured.
Home Minister V. Anitha and Tribal Welfare and Women and Child Welfare Minister G. Sandhya Rani left for the accident site. They spoke to the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Alluri Sitharamaraju district and directed them to ensure all help to the victims.
Voicing concern over increasing road accidents, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had last month ordered third-party auditing on road accidents to know the causes.
Addressing the Road Safety Council meeting, the Chief Minister had expressed concern over the deaths of 6,433 people in 15,462 road accidents in the state so far this year.
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According to officials, 79 per cent of accidents occur due to over-speeding, three per cent due to wrong-side driving, and one per cent due to alcohol and mobile phones. Andhra Pradesh stands in eighth place in road accidents in the country.
PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for kin of victims in Andhra bus tragedy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced financial assistance for the victims of a tragic bus accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district, where at least nine pilgrims lost their lives.
In a message shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, he expressed deep grief over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families. “Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the PMO posted.
The Prime Minister also approved an ex gratia payment from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). “An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” he announced, assuring support to the families struck by the tragedy.
The accident occurred during the early hours of Friday on the Chintur-Naredumilli ghat road, a stretch known for its sharp curves and difficult terrain.
According to preliminary reports, the private travel bus, carrying 37 people, including two drivers, plunged into a deep gorge after the driver allegedly failed to negotiate a sharp turn. The vehicle reportedly hit a safety wall before tumbling into the valley.
All passengers were pilgrims from Chittoor district, travelling toward the Annavaram temple in Kakinada district after visiting the revered Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana.
