Four, including a toddler, die after an electric car crashes into a wall and catches fire on Vijayawada’s Western Bypass

A crane was removing the wreckage of a car from the West Bypass Road on the outskirts of Vijayawada on Monday evening. | Photo credit: GN Rao

Four people, including a three-year-old boy, died on the spot and a woman sustained serious injuries after the car carrying them crashed into a roadside guardrail and caught fire on West Bypass Road on the outskirts of Vijayawada on Monday (12 October 2026) evening. The victims were returning after attending an event in Namburu village.

The vehicle was gutted, said NTR District Fire Officer (DFO) AV Shankar Rao. Initial reports indicated that all four people on board died in the fire. “The victims were pulled out of the vehicle by passers-by before it caught fire,” said a police officer.

The deceased were identified as K. Ramdev (38), K. Aruna (60), T. Vijaya and a three-year-old boy. T. Aruna was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries and her condition was stated to be critical. Firefighters extinguished the flames.

Four people, including a three-year-old boy, died on Monday evening when their car crashed into a roadside wall and caught fire on the Western Bypass in suburban Vijayawada. They were returning from a function in Nambur. The woman who was pulled out is critical. Video: @hindugnr1 https://t.co/oAQwteeWss

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) October 12, 2026

“The vehicle was engulfed in flames. They died before we pulled them out of the vehicle,” some local residents said.

The police have launched an investigation. “We are examining CCTV footage and gathering information from eyewitnesses,” said a police officer. The car was on fire for more than 15 minutes before firefighters reached the spot, local residents said. The police took the bodies to a government hospital for post-mortem. Later, the police removed the charred vehicle with a crane and cleared the road. The West Zone police have registered a case.

Leaders express grief

IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has instructed the NTR district administration to ensure that the injured get better medical care.

The death of four people in a road accident on the Vijayawada Western Bypass is deeply disturbing. Paying respects to the dead. We have directed the authorities to take necessary measures to ensure better treatment of the injured. Sincere condolences to the bereaved family members.

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) October 12, 2026

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan asked officials to investigate the cause of the fire in the vehicle, which his office identified as an electric car, and provide the best possible treatment for the injured woman. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said the government would stand by the affected families. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed shock and condoled.

Deputy Chief Minister condoles road accident on Vijayawada Western Bypass Deputy Chief Minister Mr. @PawanKalyan has expressed grief over the incident in which a car caught fire on Vijayawada Western Bypass and four people were burnt alive. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. The officials concerned have been directed to provide better medical treatment to the seriously injured person in the accident. Authorities were questioned about the cause of the electric vehicle fire. – Office of Deputy Chief Minister @PIB_India @IPR_AP @pibvijayawada

— Deputy CMO, Andhra Pradesh (@APDeputyCMO) October 12, 2026

Published – 12 October 2026 21:40 IST