Rajahmundry: Six killed, 21 injured in two road mishaps

Six persons were killed and 21 others injured in two separate road accidents in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours today, police said.

Four persons were killed on the spot and five others injured when a paper-laden lorry drove over the victims' tents near Duvva village in Tanuku mandal of West Godavari district early today, they said.

The driver of the lorry, going to Vijayawada from Rajahmundry, lost control of the vehicle on National Highway 16 following which it rammed into the tents in which five families were staying, police said. The deceased, who belonged to Sri Kalahastri in Chittoor district, used to live in makeshift tents and earn a living by organising road shows, they said.

The deceased were identified as Bhavani Siva, Meena, Jama and Ramba (all between 30-35 years of age). The five injured, including a four-year-old boy, were rushed to the Government General Hospital at Tanuku. The driver and cleaner of the lorry fled from the scene, police said, adding that a search was on to nab them.

In a separate incident, two persons were killed and 16 others injured, including six seriously, when a truck collided with a tractor on Pithapuram Bypass road in East Godvari district this morning, police said. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment. Further investigations were on in both the cases, police added.