Bhadrachalam, October 18: Pilgrimage on the occasion of Dasara turned tragic for the poor families of East Godavari district when the van in which they were travelling fell into a valley, killing seven persons.
Twelve others were seriously injured.
The incident occurred in the wee hours of Saturday near Tulasipaka, about 80 km away from the temple town of Bhadrachalam, when the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp curve on a ghat road and the vehicle fell into a 40-foot deep valley.
Six died on the spot while another succumbed after being shifted to a government hospital at Chintur.
According to information gathered from police and other sources, 35 persons were travelling in the ill-fated vehicle.
All of them are farm labourers from Krishnavaram village in Kirlampudi mandal. They undertook Bhavani Deeksha on the occasion of Dasara and planned to visit Lord Rama temple at Bhadrachalam before proceeding to the Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada.
A couple M Nageswara Rao and Chakraveni and their seven-year-old son, Akshay, were among the dead. The other victims have been identified as Sekhar, 25, Varalakshmi, 35, Durga Rao, 32, and Chittibabu, 38.
Officials said the seriously injured would be shifted to a big government hospital if warranted.
–Agencies