Hyderabad: Relatives of the five people who died in a road accident on the outskirts of Hyderabad, said the driver of the car that caused the mishap was drunk.
Mr Chimala Jagadeesh Yadav, a relative of victims Chimala Mamatha and Sujatha, said the car was being driven by one Praveen Kumar Reddy. “Praveen and the others were drinking till 3 am during a function. They didn’t sleep whole night. They reached Lingampally at about 6 am and rammed into the autorickshaw while taking the turn,” Mr Yadav said.
“The car dragged the autorickshaw for about 100 metres,” he said. Autorickshaw driver Vangalla Srinivas died in the mishap. His brother-in-law Suka Krishna said, “There were beer bottles in the car.”
Mr Vangalla Anjaiah, the father of Srinivas, said, “My son started for the market at 5.15 am. I got to know about the accident at 6.30 am. He used to take care of all our expenses.”
Among those who survived was Ambothu Rajitha, 12. Her relative Ambothu Fakira said, “She is seriously injured and is undergoing treatment. She is a motherless child.”
Transport minister P. Mahendra Reddy came to the spot and announced ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh and double bedroom flats for the families of the victims, according to Mr Krishna.
Locals demand more compensation
Locals staged a protest demanding a compensation of Rs 25 lakh instead of the Rs 3 lakh offered by the officials. Angered by car driver Praveen Kumar Reddy’s, negligence, locals refused to move the bodies until action was taken.
State transport minister Patnam Mahender Reddy visited the spot and had to bear the locals’ ire. Ibrahimpatnam ACP S. Malla Reddy, assured that Praveen will be tested for drunk driving after he recovers. Praveen’s father is allegedly politically well connected and thus locals wanted immediate action.
Driver is absconding, say police officials
A driver who was allegedly drunk rammed his car into a rickshaw, resuling in the death of five persons, four of them women, and injured six others at Manchal, about 45 km from the city.
Rachakonda DCP N. Prakash Reddy said, “We have registered a case under IPC Section 304A (death by negligence). There were five people in the car and they were hospitalised. The driver is absconding.”
Police was questioning the car passengers to try and locate the driver. Families of the victims staged a protest alleging that the driver was drunk and demanded justice. The dead were identified as Chimala Mamatha, 35, Chimala Sujatha, 36, Amboth Maru, 55, Ambothu Hasli, 55, and autorickshaw driver Vangalla Srinu, 25.
