In the dark, 10-year-old could not help his sister
The Toofan vehicle which fell off the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram in Rajahmundry being lifted from the river with the help of a crane on Saturday. (Photo: DC)
Rajahmundry: In utter darkness and in shock, 10-year-old Eegala Kiran Kumar, the lone survivor in Saturday‘s road mishap at Dowleswaram, spent almost an hour among the bodies of his family members.
Nearby, and unknown to him, his sister, Sandhya, 13, lay dying. Speaking to doctors at the ICU of the government hospital, Kiran said he was sitting next to his father in the middle row. “We fell asleep as it was late in the night. Suddenly, there was a big jolt and we all fell upon one another. I could not see anything in the dark.” There was utter silence. “I heard no cry from anyone except someone who was moaning. I tried to free myself but found it difficult,” Kiran said.
After a while, it was morning. Sandhya died later. Kiran was not aware that he lost his parents, sister and others.
No one came for an hour for relief
Nobody saw the accident for over an hour in the darkness. Police came to know of it when passers-by saw people gathering to see the vehicle below and called for help.
Based on preliminary inquiry, the police suspect that the vehicle may have fallen after 3.15 am and the cops got the information at about 4.30 am. Police found the vehicle crossed Kalaparru toll gate at 12.10 am and it takes two hours to reach the barrage. The police faced a tough time extricating the bodies as the vehicle had overturned and its cabin got squeezed trapping the inmates. AP announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of the victims.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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