Death came calling for nine persons — four returning home from a marriage and five others heading for a marriage — when the cars they were travelling in collided at Kanimetta in Kothakota mandal of Wanaparthy district, 150 km from here, on Wednesday.
The accident took place at around 8 a.m. on Hyderabad -Bengaluru national highway. Kothakota CI Somnarayan Singh said that 11 people including three women were travelling in the two cars and death was instant for seven persons. Two others succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Government Hospital in Mahabubnagar town.
Four among the deceased are family members based in Hyderabad. “Two others injured were rushed to Hyderabad for treatment,” police said.
Mr. Singh said that one of the cars, identified as a cab proceeding towards Mulamalla village, rammed a median and landed on the other side of the road, and collided with another car, which was on its way to Hyderabad from Kurnool.
Police suspect that the cab was apparently driven at a high speed and the driver dozed off at the wheel.
The deceased were identified as Beerappa (24), driver of the cab, Raju (38); Mallesh (28 ); L Naresh (32) and Anjaiah (36), all natives of different villages in Wanaparthy district. Mogulanna, another passenger of the cab was shifted to Hyderabad for treatment.
The four occupants of the Hyderabad-bound hatchback who died in the accident were identified as S Suri Babu (55), his wife S Sunitha (48), mother-in-law Rajeshwari (65) and her elder sister Prasuna (70), residents of Badangpet .
According to a senior police officer, Suri Babu’s daughter Kalpana who was rushed to a private hospital in Hyderabad is battling for life .
Police said the bodies were handed over to members of the family after autopsy. A case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered. Further investigation is on.
