In a tragic incident, six women were killed and seven others injured when a truck collided with an autorickshaw in which they were travelling in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district early on Saturday.
The truck hit the autorickshaw near Modekuru in Kothapeta mandal (block) killing five the spot. Another injured person succumbed at the hospital.
The group of 13 were travelling in a seven-seater. They were on their way to a temple in a nearby village when the sand-laden truck coming from opposite direction hit their vehicle.
The deceased have been identified as Nagamani (46), P Bhavani (25), P Parvathi (48), P Anantha Lakshmi (40), Pulime Ananta Lakshmi (45) and P Durga.
The injured were admitted to KIMS Hospital in Amalapuram. The accident led to huge traffic jam on the Ravulapalem-Amalapuram road.
Ravulapalem inspector B Peddi Raju told the Hindustan Times that the police have registered a case and investigation is on.
Meanwhile, state home minister and deputy chief minister N Chinna Rajappa met the victims of the accident, and assured them of proper medical treatment.
Earlier this year, at least 20 people were killed and 15 people were injured, when a lorry ran amok in Andhra's Chittoor district.
The incident occurred in front of the Yerpedu police station at around 2pm on April 21, when a speeding lorry rammed into a crowd. Many others were injured after an electric pole fell on them at the accident site.
Most of the victims were staging a protest before the Yerpedu police station, demanding action against illegal sand mining in their native villages when the accident occurred.
Following this, Transport Minister K Atchannaidu said that the state government would wage a “war against road accidents.”
In the same address, Home Minister N Chinarajappa said that more than 3,000 people are killed in road accidents every year in the state and roughly 30,000 people suffer injuries.
With IANS inputs