Eight devotees from Karnataka killed in Andhra road accident

AMARAVATI: At least eight devotees were killed, and 12 others were injured when a vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a ready-mix lorry in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district on Thursday.

The accident occurred early morning near Chilakaladona in Mantralayam. The victims, hailing from Chikmagaluru in neighbouring Karnataka, were on their way to Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Mantralayam, for darshan.

The vehicle collided with the heavy vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Police rushed to the spot and launched relief measures.

Five people died on the spot, while three others succumbed at a hospital. The injured have been admitted to a hospital in Yemmiganur.

The deceased have been identified as Kumar (60), Deepika Veena (35), Sunil (40), Belli (3), Meenakshi (60), Puttamma (60), Tayamma (60) and Lolakshi.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep shock over the death of eight people in the road accident.