10 die in 2 accidents in Guntur

VIJAYAWADA: In two separate tragic incidents, a total of ten people have died in Guntur district on Sunday.

The first of the two road accidents took place at the ‘5-mile junction point’ in the Vatticherukuru mandal in which six people died. The second accident occurred at the Ramapuram thanda in Veldurthi mandal, in which four persons died on the spot, while four others were injured.

Both vehicles turned turtle due to negligence of the two drivers in the separate accidents, leading to their respective vehicle falling into a deep ditch, causing the death of 10 persons.

Six people were killed when a seven-seat car in which they were driving turned turtle after hitting a ‘caution board’ while trying to overtake another vehicle near a deep curve. They were the locals of Kakumanu village of Vatticherukuru who had gone to Etukuru village in Guntur rural mandal to attend a function, and were returning.

The vehicle fell into a deep pit dug up close to a local stream at the ‘5-mile point’ in Vatticherukuru mandal.
As many as 11 persons were travelling in the car when the incident took place. The car fell into a pit dug up to over 15 feet depth. Five people were killed on the spot, a sixth person died while being shifting to the Guntur general hospital, while the reaming five others were injured.

The deceased were identified as Vannuru Prasadam (55), Pogartha Ramana (48), Pogartha Sitamma (65), Pogartha Veeralakshmi (50) and driver Kammadulu Srinu (45), who died on the spot, while Vajra Subbulu (48) died on the way to hospital. Guntur urban SP P.H.D. Ramakrishna visited the spot and initiated an inquiry into the accident. Guntur district collector I. Samuel Anand Kumar also expressed condolences and visited the injured persons at the hospital.

Home minister Mekathoti Sucharita expressed condolences and consoled surviving family members. She directed doctors to give best medical services to the injured. She promised a house site and support to construct a house to surviving members.

Giving details of the second accident, Macherla rural circle inspector P Baktavachala Reddy said that a speeding lorry slipped into a deep quarry after applying a sudden brake at Bondalaveedu village of Veldurthi mandal in Guntur district. The lorry fell into a deep quarry pit at Ramapuram thanda. It was carrying a load of red chilli, and ferrying along agriculture workers.

The deceased include Sadanala Harikrishna (25), Sadanala Srinivasa Rao (36), Nayudu Sambaiah (60), besides the driver, who all died on the spot. Police are trying to identify the driver to contact his relatives. The police have shifted the injured persons to Macherla area hospital for treatment and further investigation is on.