Andhra: 20 dead as Tirupati-bound lorry rams into shop

Heavy loaded truck with a maximum speed rams into innocent public in Chittoor near Tirupati.

Amaravati: At least 20 people are feared dead and several others grievously injured after a heavily-loaded truck ran into a crowd outside the Yerpedu Mandal police station near Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh on Friday afternoon.

According to the police in Chittoor, the incident took place when the victims were waiting in front of a shop near the police station to submit forms when a truck is believed to have lost control due to over-speeding and rammed into an electric pole and then mowed down many on the spot.

The police shifted the injured to the government hospital in Chittoor and the deceased were sent for post-mortem. The police believe 10 people died on the spot while two died on the way to a hospital. The remaining eight are believed to have died because of electrocution.

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 said.

The deceased are yet to be identified. The driver and the cleaner of the truck fled the scene soon after the incident. A case has been registered and a search operation was launched to nab the driver and cleaner.

OneIndia News