Four Devotees Killed After Speeding SUV Hits Them on Andhra Pradesh Highway

Four devotees died and one person was seriously hurt when a speeding SUV struck them on the Chennai-Kolkata national highway in Andhra Pradesh.

What Happened

The crash took place at around six in the morning on Thursday in Kathipudi village of Kakinada district. A group of forty people travelling from Vizianagaram district to Vijayawada were on a pilgrimage while observing Bhavani Deeksha. Their bus broke down on the road, prompting the driver to pull over for repairs. Five passengers walked along the roadside toward a tea shop when a Mahindra Scorpio coming from behind hit them.

Casualties And Reactions

Three people died instantly at the scene. Another victim passed away while workers moved him to a local hospital. Police identified the four dead men as Sirigidi Erraiah, Lingala Sitaram, Bonela Sathibabu, and Thatipudi Shivaprasad. A fifth victim is currently receiving medical care and doctors describe his health as stable. State transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and in-charge minister Ponguru Narayana expressed sorrow over the incident and asked officials to provide proper treatment to the survivor.

Context

Highway vehicle breakdowns often force passengers to walk near fast-moving traffic, creating high risks for pedestrians on national routes. State ministers frequently step in during major road accidents to coordinate emergency responses and offer official support to affected families.