13 Killed as Truck Runs Into Crowd in Chittoor in Andhra
The incident occurred outside Yerpedu police station in Chittoor.
- 13 people were killed and several injured in a truck mishap in AP’s Chittoor district
- The truck rammed into a crowd of protesters near the Yerpedu police station
- The protesters were there to submit a petition against illegal sand mining in the Swarnamukhi river
- The injured were rushed to VR Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati
- CM Chandrababu Naidu has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased
- PM Narendra Modi expressed grief about the incident on Twitter
CM Announces Compensation
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the mishap.
AP Medical Officer Issues Instructions
Minister for Health and Medical Services Kamineni Srinivas told Telangana Today that district officials will provide all the necessary medical treatment for the injured. The post mortem of the victims must be completed and their bodies must be released to their families immediately, he ordered
Truck Driver Was Drunk: Reports
Reports suggest that the driver of the truck was drunk at the time of the incident. According to NDTV, the speeding truck hit an electric pole and rammed into a crowd of farmers outside the police station. The farmers had reportedly gathered near the police station to demand action against the sand mafia operating in Munagalapalem village in the district.
At least 13 people were reportedly killed and several others injured after a truck rammed into a crowd outside the Yerpedu police station in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on 21 April.
According to reports, the victims were waiting outside the police station to submit various applications when the driver of a passing truck lost control and ran over them.
Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa expressed shock over the incident. He spoke to the Tirupati Superintendent of Police and directed that the injured be extended necessary medical treatment, an official was quoted as saying.
PM Modi, Others, Express Sorrow on Twitter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condole the deaths.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief at the incident and directed the district collector to supervise relief ops.
Other leaders also took to Twitter to extend their condolences:
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)