NELLORE: Three pilgrims from Nellore district were killed, and 15 others were injured when a private bus carrying Kashi Yatra devotees collided with a truck near Aurangabad in Bihar.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Monday while the bus was travelling from Gaya to Varanasi. The vehicle was carrying around 45 pilgrims from Sangam, Atmakur and Duttaluru areas of Nellore district. The group had left for the pilgrimage on June 1 and had visited several religious centres in Bihar.
The deceased were identified as Chowdam Hazarathayya, 60, of Sangam village; Pusupuleti Venkateswarlu, 63, a retired RTC driver from Military Colony in Dargamitta and organiser of the pilgrimage; and Thooma Padmavati, 43, of Weavers Colony in Atmakur. Officials said the injured are undergoing treatment, and are stable.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He enquired about the medical aid being provided to the injured.
The CM directed officials to coordinate with the Bihar government to ensure immediate aid for the injured. He instructed officials to make arrangements for the safe return of the pilgrims who escaped unhurt. He announced an ex gratia of `5 lakh each for the families of the deceased, `2 lakh each for those who sustained grievous injuries, and `1 lakh each for those with minor injuries.
Following his directions, AP officials have remained in constant contact with the Bihar government and local authorities to coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said the government had launched relief measures on a war footing to assist the victims. Speaking to the mediapersons in Nellore, he said the Chief Minister’s Office, Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi, and the Bihar authorities were coordinating efforts to provide immediate support.
The Minister said the bodies of the deceased would be transported from Gaya to Renigunta Airport by a special aircraft. Officials will then shift the bodies to their native villages.
He added that arrangements were being made to airlift the injured to Chennai, from where they would be transported to Nellore by special buses under government supervision.
Meanwhile, YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief over the tragedy and urged the government to extend all possible aid to the affected families.
