KAKINADA: In a devastating road accident, four devotees travelling to Vijayawada as part of their Bhavani Deeksha were killed, and three others critically injured when a speeding SUV hit them on the National Highway 16 near Kattipudi junction in Kakinada district on Thursday.
The fatal mishap occurred around 5.40 am at Ravikampadu Centre, where a private bus carrying nearly 40 pilgrims from Denkada village in Vizianagaram district halted for a tea break. The devotees were on their way to fulfil their religious vows at the Durga temple in Vijayawada upon completing their Bhavani Deeksha.
When a few passengers alighted from the bus, and crossed the highway toward a roadside tea stall, a speeding Mahindra Scorpio travelling from the Visakhapatnam direction mowed them down.
Three devotees—Chirigidi Yerrayya (38), Lingala Seetharam (45), and Bonela Ramana Sathibabu (40)—died on the spot, while Thatipudi Siva Prasad (40) succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to the Kakinada Government General Hospital.
Three severely hurt devotees shifted to hosp
Three others, including a parcel van driver, and the travel bus cleaner, sustained severe injuries, and were admitted to hospital for emergency treatment. Police noted that the occupants of the SUV, including the driver, were also wearing Bhavani Malas, and heading toward Vijayawada when the collision occurred.
Peddapuram DSP Tilak, Prathipadu Inspector Surya Apparao, and Annavaram Sub-Inspector Sri Haribabu inspected the scene.
CM N Chandrababu Naidu, Dy CM K Pawan Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh, Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav expressed deep grief over the death of four Bhavani devotees.