Fifteen people, mostly college students, were today killed and 30 others injured when a state-run bus in which they were travelling fell down a dug up area adjoining a hilly road in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district.
Among the 15 deceased were 10 college students, including a girl, a forest guard and some other passengers, a police official said.
“The toll has risen to 15 with the death of some injured persons undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Most of the deceased are college students. At least 30 others are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Bengaluru, Anantapur and Penukonda,” Deputy Superintendent of Police, Penukonda (sub-division), N Subbarao told PTI over phone.
The accident occurred at around 8.30 am between Madakasira and Penukonda ghat road in the district where a long stretch of the area adjoining the road had been dug up and the road was being levelled, said the DSP, who is monitoring the rescue and relief work.
AP Home Minister N Chinna Rajappa ordered an inquiry into the mishap.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the 15 persons who were killed in the mishap. He also announced an aid of Rs 2 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh to those who sustained injuries,” a state government release said.
Naidu, who chaired a day-long pre-Budget meeting with ministers and officials in Vijayawada today, stressed that the AP Road Transport Corporation should take measures to avoid recurrence of such accidents.
