Six persons - four men and two women - were killed on the spot, while five others were critically injured when a lorry and an SUV collided head-on at Lalithanagar Cross of Seetharampeta village of Yerpedu mandal, 9 k.m. from Srikalahasti temple town, on Saturday morning.
According to area police, a 11-member pilgrim party of two families from Gangireddiipalle village of Dhachepalle mandal of Guntur district were on their way to Srikalahasti after having darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. Their SUV collided head-on with a lorry on its way to Tirupati, carrying cement load.
The accident took place at around 7.30 a.m. The lorry swerved to the extreme left and jumped the road, leaving the mangled SUV on the road. This led to a heavy traffic jam, resulting in stranding of vehicles on both sides.
The deceased were identified as Venkateswarulu, Bhargavi, Koteswaramma, Tirupal, Nagaraju and Kajhavali (driver). The injured, who were rushed to SVRR Hospital at Tirupati were Bhodeswaramma, Gopalakrishna, Sivasai, Narendra and Chittu. Police from Renigunta, Yerpedu and Srikalahasti rushed to the spot and cleared the traffic.
The bodies were shifted to area hospital for autopsy. A case was registered and further investigation is on. Relatives and family members of the victims were informed about the tragedy.
A few years ago some engineering students were also killed in a road accident at the same spot.