Date:18/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101855260600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Miraculous escape for pilgrims

Staff Reporter

The vehicle falls into a 20-foot deep valley

TIRUMALA: The family of Raghavendra Goud, who is the resident of Kurnool, consisting of 16 members had a miraculous escape on Friday when the vehicle in which they were travelling fell into a 20-foot deep valley while returning from the Sri Vari Padalu situated atop Narayanagiri hills, four kilometres away from Tirumala. According to the police four of them sustained serious injuries. The vehicle was overloaded with ten adults and six children including the driver. .

First aid

All the injured were administered first aid at the TTD-run Aswini Hospital and were later shifted to S.V.R.R. Hospital, Tirupati for further treatment. Meanwhile when the Sanjeevini ambulance stationed on the first Ghat Road was on its way to the Sri Vari Padulu after receiving the information about the mishap as part of rescue operation also met with an accident when an APSRTC bus, which was going down to Tirupati hit it.

The condition of the ambulance driver, Purushottam, is said to be serious.