ANANTAPURAM: Five women farmhands died and 14 others were injured in a ghastly road mishap at Kadaram Palle village of Rayadurgam mandal in Anantapur district in early hours on Wednesday, when a speeding lorry rammed into the autorickshaw they were travelling in.
At around 5:30 a.m., when a group of farmhands from Avuladatla village of Rayadurgam mandal were on their way to Yerraguntla village of Kanekal mandal, the accident happened. The lorry, also on its way to Rayadurgam, rammed the auto-rickshaw.
The impact of the collision was such that, the auto cartwheeled thrice and fell in the roadside fields. Three women passengers died on the spot, while two others lost their lives on their way to hospital. Condition of five injured is reported to be critical. Others suffered minor injuries.
The deceased were identified as Durgamma (35), Vondrakka (50), Valluramma (45) (all the three died on the spot) Mallakka (30) and Parvathy (25). (They died on the way to hospital in Bellary). Five of the injured are undergoing treatment at VIMS in Bellary, Karnataka, which is 40 km from the accident spot and the rest were shifted to Government General Hospital in Anantapur district.
Police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and supervised shifting of the injured to the hospitals. A case has been registered and the investigation is on. Meanwhile, I&PR Minister Palle Raghunath Reddy expressed shock over the incident and directed officials concerned to ensure proper treatment for the injured.