Eight devotees killed in road accident near Mantralayam in Andhra, several injured
The accident took place on National Highway 167, around 8-9 kilometres from the Dharmapur toll plaza of Kurnool district, near the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border
At least eight people, including five women, were killed and several others injured after a vehicle carrying pilgrims collided head-on with a tanker in Mantralayam of Kurnool district, a police official said.
The accident occurred when the devotees were travelling to Mantralayam for darshan of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, and the vehicle carrying 16 passengers rammed into the tanker, resulting in the fatal crash.
The accident took place on National Highway 167, around 8-9 kilometres from the Dharmapur toll plaza of Kurnool district, near the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.
"Eight devotees died on the spot, while several others sustained injuries and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment," Yemmiganur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) N Bhargavi told reporters.
The victims include five women, a three-year-old girl and two men. The victims have been identified as pilgrims from Karnataka.
Police personnel rushed to the spot soon after receiving information and carried out rescue operations. The bodies of the victims were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem examination.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
(With agency inputs)