VISAKHAPATNAM: Nine pilgrims from Chittoor district were killed and 27 others sustained injuries when a private travel bus allegedly plunged into a valley on the Tulasipaka ghat road in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district during the early hours of Friday.
The bus, belonging to Vigneswara Travels, was carrying 37 passengers at the time of the accident.
The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. on Friday at a sharp turn on the Chinturu–Maredumilli ghat road. The tourists were travelling from Araku Valley and were scheduled to reach the Bhadrachalam temple later in the morning.
Teams from the Maredumilli and Chintoor police stations reached the spot and began rescue operations along with local villagers.
One of the survivors recalled that the group had started from Chittoor on Saturday to tour north Andhra Pradesh. “We visited the Simhachalam temple on Thursday and reached Araku by evening. Early this morning, while on our way to Bhadrachalam, the bus suddenly fell into the valley around 4.30 a.m. at a sharp turn,” she said.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the accident and reviewed the situation with district officials.
The Chief Minister directed senior officials to reach the location immediately, oversee rescue work, and ensure coordinated assistance and medical care for all victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh, and several other ministers also expressed their condolences. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha is on her way to the accident site to monitor relief efforts.
Governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed deep anguish over the accident and was briefed that rescue operations were under way and the injured had been shifted to nearby hospitals. He conveyed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha is on her way to Chinturu to visit the victims.