Three Nellore Pilgrims Die In Bihar Road Accident; 15 Injured
The pilgrims, belonging to Sangam, Atmakur and Duttalur areas, had left for the pilgrimage on June 1: Reports
NELLORE: Three pilgrims from SPSR Nellore district have died and 15 others were injured in a road accident in Bihar during a Kashi Yatra pilgrimage, prompting the AP government to initiate relief and arrange special transportation for the victims.
The accident occurred near Aurangabad as a private bus carrying devotees from Nellore district collided with an oncoming vehicle on National Highway-2 while travelling from Gaya to Varanasi in the early hours of Monday.
The pilgrims, belonging to Sangam, Atmakur and Duttalur areas, had left for the pilgrimage on June 1. The accident occurred while the pilgrims were travelling from Gaya to Varanasi.
The deceased were Chowdam Hazarathayya, 60, of Sangam village, Pusupuleti Venkateswarlu, 63, a retired RTC driver from Military Colony in Dargamitta, Nellore, and Thooma Padmavathi, 43, of Weavers Colony, Atmakur. Around 15 pilgrims who sustained injuries have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He asked senior officials to coordinate with the Bihar government to ensure necessary support. He also asked them to facilitate the safe return of the remaining pilgrims.
Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said he’s coordinating matters with the CMO, the Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi and the Bihar government. The bodies would be transported by special aircraft from Gaya to Renigunta airport, from where district authorities would arrange transportation to their native places.
Most of the injured pilgrims would be shifted by special flight to Chennai and then transported to Nellore district by government-arranged buses. Three seriously injured would continue treatment in Bihar on medical advice. A special control room has been established to monitor the situation.
YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief over the accident and urged the government to extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
Atmakur RDO Pavani said a call centre had been set up at the district collectorate to provide information to family members and relatives of the victims.
The AP government has announced ex gratia for the families of the dead and to the injured. The families of the deceased would receive ₹5 lakh each. Those who sustained grievous injuries would get ₹2 lakh each, while those with minor injuries get ₹1 lakh each.
