APSRTC Driver Taken Off Duty for Using Mobile Phone While Driving

An APSRTC driver has been removed from duty after being caught driving a bus while using his mobile phone in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district.

The incident came to light after a passenger recorded a video of the driver allegedly using his cellphone while driving and shared it with the authorities. The video quickly drew the attention of Transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who ordered immediate action against the driver.

Officials identified the vehicle as an APSRTC hired service bus bearing registration number AP39 UY 9691 attached to the Palamaner depot. Acting on the minister's instructions, APSRTC officials immediately removed the driver from duty pending further action.

Ramprasad Reddy said there would be no compromise on passenger safety under any circumstances. He directed officials to take stringent action against employees found violating safety regulations.

Transport department has asked all staff operating RTC buses to strictly adhere to safety protocols and exercise utmost caution to ensure the safety of passengers.

2 Odisha migrant workers killed in road accident near Tada

Two migrant workers from Odisha died after being hit by a speeding car near Konduru village in Tada mandal of Tirupati district on Friday morning.

According to the police, the victims were walking along the road to attend nature’s call when the car hit them. The impact left Arjun Bhatara (50) and Chaitu Goud (34) with serious injuries.

Locals alerted the police, and both men were shifted to the government hospital in Sullurupeta in a 108 ambulance. Despite treatment, they succumbed to their injuries.

Police registered a case and started an investigation. Efforts are underway to identify the vehicle responsible for the accident and trace its driver.

Woman found dead under suspicious circumstances at Kuppam Railway Station

A 37-year-old woman working at a software company in Bengaluru was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Kuppam Railway Station in Chittoor district late on Thursday night.

According to the railway police, the deceased was identified as Chirala Radha, a native of Aduripalle in Nellore district. She had been living in Bengaluru with her husband, Ravi, and their two children, and was employed at a software company.

Police said Radha had left for work as usual but did not return home. Later on Thursday night, she was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Kuppam Railway Station.

The body was shifted to the Kuppam Government Area Hospital for the postmortem examination. Railway police have registered a case of suspicious death and are investigating the circumstances leading to her death.

Man gets life term for murder

Kakinada third additional district and sessions court judge G. Anandi sentenced 26-year-old Shaik Shabbir Kamal to life imprisonment. Shaik Shabbir was convicted of murdering his 48-year-old mother, Shaik Jahara Bibi, on March 16, 2025. The fatal incident occurred after she reprimanded him, urging him to either find a job or continue his education.

While the Indrapalem police registered a case, Kakinada Rural circle inspector D.S. Chaitanya Krishna completed the investigation and filed a charge sheet within 60 days with scientific evidence. Kakinada district superintendent of police G. Bindu Madhav greeted the circle inspector, Indrapalem Sub-Inspector M. Veerababu and others for speedy delivery of the case.

Man kills woman, dumps body in Odisha

A 32-year-old man, who worked as a driver for police vehicles, killed a young woman, packed her body in a suitcase and dumped it in a forest area of Rayagada in south Odisha. The Rayagada police arrested the man in Visakhapatnam late on Thursday evening. He was identified as Bolisetti Suresh Kumar, a resident of Durganagar under Kancharapalem police station limits. The victim was 20-year-old Sandhya.

Suresh Kumar worked as an outsourcing driver for Rakshak vehicles earlier and often drove police officials’ vehicles as an opting driver. Local police sources said Suresh Kumar befriended Sandhya at Visakhapatnam Railway Station a few months ago after his pregnant wife went to her parents’ house for delivery.

He exploited her sexually with a promise to marry her. After a long wait, Sandhya came to his house on June 15 and demanded Suresh to marry her, failing which she threatened to inform his wife about the affair.

In a bid to get rid of her, he allegedly killed her using his fists. He later packed her in a gunny bag and went to the Jagadamba centre to buy a suitcase. He came home and stuffed the body in the suitcase and boarded a train for Rayagada on July 17.

After reaching Rayagada, he dumped the body in a forest area near Khaliguda under Chandili police limits and brought back the suitcase.

He visited a local temple and tonsured his head. He later returned to Visakhapatnam.

The locals informed the police after the decomposed body started emitting a bad smell.

The police, after going through CCTV footage at different places, identified the killer Suresh Kumar. The Chandili police came to Visakhapatnam on Thursday evening, and in association with Kancharapalem police, arrested Suresh. Along with the local police, they searched his house and recovered some belongings of Sandhya.

Later, they took him to Rayagada to produce him in the court. The magistrate remanded him to 14 days' custody.

Boiling curry injures three school students

At least three students of a municipal high school in Nizamvali Colony in Kadiri in the Satya Sai district suffered injuries after boiling curry fell on them during the serving of the midday meal on Thursday. The incident came to light on Friday.

Sources said the vessel with boiling curry slipped and accidentally fell on a few students who were closer to the point at Municipal High School in Nizam Vali Colony in Kadiri town. The teachers immediately shifted the students to a nearby hospital and treated them.

Sources said the curry fell on seven students, but three suffered burning injuries. Headmaster Ramana Reddy immediately responded and shifted them to hospital. Kadiri MEO Obula Reddy directed the school management to be cautious over such incidents and take care of the children.

Kothuru college Inter student dies by suicide at hostel

A 16-year-old doing her first-year Intermediate at the Government Junior College in Kothuru committed suicide at her hostel on Friday.

Savara Poojitha had been a native of Lakkayyaguda village in Seethampeta mandal. Police said the student ended her life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room.

A case has been registered and investigation is on to establish the exact reason for the extreme step taken by the girl.

Man gets jail for trading in ganja

A court in Vizianagaram on Friday convicted and sentenced 26-year-old T. Dharma to one-year rigorous imprisonment in a ganja case. Further, the court slapped a fine of ₹10,000 on the convict.

Police said Dharma, a native of Dumbriguda locality in ASR district, had been caught with around 2.5 kg of dry cannabis near Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram district on August 6, 2021 while transporting the weed on a bike.

Police seized the contraband and registered a case against him under the NDPS Act, leading to his conviction.

50-year old dies in accident

A 50-year-old man crossing the road died after being hit by a two-wheeler at Veeravilli village in V. Madugula mandal of Anakapalle district. The victim has been identified as Dadi Laxmi Rao, a native of Veeravilli.

Police have registered a case and are trying to locate the two-wheeler rider.