As many as 22 persons were killed when a Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV) Toofan fell into the Godavari river in Dowleshwaram near Rajahmundry of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday.
The victims included nine women, six men and six children. While 21 persons died on the spot, the rescue workers saved two children, including a girl, were rescued and shifted to Rajahmundry Government Hospital. However, the girl later succumbed at the hospital. The boy, Egala Kiran, 13, is undergoing treatment at the hospital. They hailed from Achutapuram of Visakhapatnam district. On June 6, they left their village for pilgrimage to Bhadrachalam, Srisailam, Tirumala, Srikalahasti and were returning home after visiting Durgamma Temple at Vijayawada when they met with the accident.
The deceased persons have been identified as Egala Apparao, Ram Babu, Kondamma, Prasad, Kanaka, Kosamma, Gopi, Sai, Annapurna, Raju, Ramana, Venkat, Shinamma, Namita, karthik, Navya, Pavan, Sandhya, Venkatalaxmi and Sukalamma.
“Deeply saddened about tragic death of 21 people travelling in a van after it fell off Dowleswaram bridge. I’m monitoring the situation. The kid, a lone survivor, is undergoing treatment. Spoke to our Home Minister who visited the spot. We’re providing all possible help, (sic)” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said in a series of tweets. (INN)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also condoled the loss of lives due to bus accident. “Loss of lives due to a bus accident in East Godavari district, AP is saddening and unfortunate. My deepest condolences”, the Prime Minister said. (INN)