Nine killed, 22 injured as bus overturns on Chinturu ghat road in Andhra Pradesh

At least nine people died and 22 were injured after a bus fell off a road and turned turtle here in Alluri Sitaramarajud district in the early hours of Friday (December 12), police said.

The bus, which was headed to neighbouring Telangana from Chittoor, was carrying 37 people, including the driver and the cleaner. Six of them are safe. Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Bardar said the accident occurred around 4:30 am on Chintoor-Maredumilli ghat road near a Durga temple. "At least nine people died and 22 were injured as the bus fell off the ghat road. The bus did not fully plunge into the valley. It turned turtle... and got stuck," Bardar told PTI, adding that four of the injured are critical.

According to the officer, it is likely that the bus driver did not see a curve at the accident site, which falls in the Mothugudem police station area, due to heavy fog. Bardar said the bus passengers were going to the Sri Rama temple in Telangana's Bhadrachalam from Chittoor.

Also read | Car rams truck in Andhra Pradesh; 5 engineering students killed

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the accident. He said the officials have been instructed to ensure that injured receive necessary assistance for proper medical aid.

“The accident involving a private bus carrying passengers near Chittoor district in Alluri Sitarama Raju has deeply shaken us. It is heartbreaking that several lives were lost in this accident. I have spoken with the officials regarding the accident and gathered details about the assistance being provided to the affected individuals. I have instructed the officials to take all necessary measures to ensure that the injured receive better medical aid. The government will stand by the families of those who lost their lives in the accident,” he posted on X.

(With agency inputs)