Kurnool: In a ghastly road accident, 14 people including eight women and one infant, were killed and four others were injured when the van in which they were going to Ajmer on pilgrimage, collided with a lorry at Madharpur village in Veldurthi mandal in the district in the early hours on Sunday.
Police said that 18 people belonging to one town area in Madanapalle town in Chittoor district were going to Ajmer Dargah in Rajasthan on pilgrimage. The van mounted the road divider, plunged into another lane and collided with a speeding lorry resulting in the killing of 14 people.
Police said that eight women, an infant and five men were among the deceased. The injured persons were admitted to the GGH in Kurnool where the condition of a boy was said to be serious.
The deceased were identified as Nazerbe (65), Dastagiri (50), Ammajan (46), Samira (16), Amiroon (15), Rafi (36), Mastani (30), Rayan (1), Jafhan Vali (32), Rohini (25), Nowjiya (34), Ameerjan (63), the driver of the vehicle Nazir (55) and mechanic Shafi (38). The government of AP announced Rs.2 lakh ex-gratia to each of the bereaved family.
The van turned into an iron mangle under the impact of collision. Pathetic scenes were witnessed at the accident site as the bodies and flesh were seen scattered on the road. District Collector G Veerapandyan and SP Phakirappa visited the scene of the accident.
SP Phakirappa told the media that as per the preliminary investigation, the driver of the van drowsy at the steering resulting in he lost control of the vehicle. The Collector said that arrangements were made to shift the bodies to their village after the post-mortem. Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended at the one town area in Madanapalle town with the death of 14 people belonging to two families.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind expressed shock over the death of pilgrims in the accident. He tweeted “The death of pilgrims, including women and a child, in a road mishap at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, is a heart-rending tragedy and my deep sympathy for the bereaved families and wish speedy recovery of survivors”.
Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu said that he distressed to hear about the loss of lives in a road accident in Kurnool and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu among those who expressed deep shock and anguish at the accident.
