At least 20 killed, several more injured as lorry rams into pedestrians in Andhra

At least 20 people were confirmed dead and several more were injured after a lorry ran amok in Andhra's Chittoor district on Friday.

According to the police, the incident occurred at around 2pm in the afternoon, when the lorry hit an electric pole near Yerpedu, and ran over several pedestrians, crushing many of them.  

The incident happened very close to the Yerpedu police station.

The Deccan Chronicle reported that some of the victims were also staging a protest before the police station, demanding action against illegal sand transportation from their native villages, when the accident occurred.

The police suspect that the lorry was travelling at a high speed, which led to the driver losing control.

Several policemen reached the spot, along with rescue teams. The injured were being shifted to hospitals nearby.

The local media reported that some people also died due to an electric shock, after the pole fell on them.

The death toll is expected to go up.

Reports suggest that those with grievous injuries were shifted to SVR Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati, while traffic movement on the key highway took a hit.

PTI reported that Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa expressed shock over the incident and directed that the injured to be extended necessary medical treatment.

Further details are awaited.