Seven dead, eight injured as private bus rams into car in Andhra Pradesh’s Palnad

Injured rickshaw driver Bontha Arun Kumar was undergoing treatment at the Government General Hospital in Guntur on Thursday. | Photo Credit: T. VIJAY KUMAR

Seven people were killed and eight others were seriously injured when a private tour bus rammed into an auto-rickshaw at Addaroad Center in Chilakaluripet town of Palnadu district in the wee hours of Thursday.

According to police, 15 persons, including four children, nine women and two men hailing from Veluru village in Chilakaluripet mandal, were traveling in an auto-rickshaw to Konda Manjuluru village in J. Panguluru mandal of Prakasam district after attending a birthday celebration.

While returning to Velur, the car was taking a turn at Addaroad Center when a private tour bus traveling from Vijayawada towards Tirupati hit it.

Four people died on the spot while another person died while undergoing treatment at Chilakaluripet Government Hospital. Two more people succumbed to their injuries at the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur.

The deceased was identified as Bontha Babu Rao, 62; Bontha Manemma, 55; Bontha Sampurnamma, 70; Choutupalli Lakshmamma, 75; Bontha Gangamma, 50; Sowtupalli Suvartha, 45; and Bontha Mariyamma, 45. All the deceased were residents of Veluru village.

The injured were identified as Talluri Venkayamma, 50; Choutupalli Dhanalakshmi, 30; Taluri Abhiram, 6; Choutupalli Subbulu, 60; Bontha Arun Kumar, 40 (auto-rickshaw driver); Bontha Samuel Babu, 6; Bontha Pallavi, 12; and Bontha Divya, 7.

While Mr. Arun and Ms. Subbulu were undergoing treatment at GGH in Guntur, Dhanalakshmi is undergoing treatment at Chilakaluripet. The remaining passengers returned home, said Talluri Kishore, a relative of the car driver Arun.

He said all the victims were relatives, adding that the accident may have happened between midnight and 1 a.m. Thursday.

Chilakaluripet Municipal Circle Inspector Ramesh and Narasaraopet Deputy Superintendent of Police Hanumanth Rao inspected the accident site. The police registered the case and started an investigation.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed deep grief. In a statement issued by Lok Bhavan, he expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief and directed officials to provide the best possible medical services to the injured.

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan suggested that verification of all private buses be done and strict action be taken in case of violations.

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha inquired about the severity of the accident, casualties and relief measures. She ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.

IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the government would stand by the families of the victims in all possible ways.

Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy termed the accident as tragic and urged residents to follow road safety rules.

YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief and urged the authorities to provide immediate and advanced medical care to the injured.

Published – 27 Aug 2026 08:19 IST