Date:03/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050303390600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Nine killed, 34 injured in A.P. bus accident

Staff Reporter

Early morning tragedy in Guntur district

VINUKONDA (GUNTUR DISTRICT): Nine persons were killed and 34 seriously injured when an APSRTC bus plunged from a bridge into the Gundlakamma rivulet at Peddavaram in Guntur district on Wednesday.

The driver of APSRTC bus, going from Arumuru in Nizamabad district to Vinzamuru in Nellore district, lost control and hit the railing of the bridge over the first pier. The bus went 20 feet down and hit the ground upside down at 3.40 a.m. Seven persons died on the spot.The Government announced Rs.1 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the dead.

There was no water between the first and second pier of the bridge. It took two hours to extricate all the passengers.