22 people including 10 women and six children died after a van they were travelling in plunged into the railing on Dowleshwaram Barrage and fell into the reservoir early morning on Saturday.
Only a 12-year-old child reportedly survived the accident and has been admitted to a nearby hospital.
The van, carrying pilgrims, was returning from Tirupati when it rammed about 25-30 feet into the Dowleswaram barrage.
Doweleswaram Barrage Circle Inspector K Sivajirao told a news agency, “We pulled out alive a boy and girl but the girl did not survive. Twenty two persons died—the entire families of Appa Rao, his two sons and relatives-have been wiped out in the accident.”
However, the water-level at the point of accident was very shallow, he added.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said in a series of tweets: “Deeply saddened about tragic death of 21 people travelling in a van after it fell off Dowleswaram bridge. I’m monitoring the situation. The kid, a lone survivor, is undergoing treatment. Spoke to our Home Minister who visited the spot. We’re providing all possible help, (sic).”
Deeply saddened about tragic death of 21 people travelling in a van after it fell off Dowleswaram bridge. I’m monitoring the situation.(1/2)
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 13, 2015
The kid, a lone survivor, is undergoing treatment. Spoke to our Home Minister who visited the spot. We’re providing all possible help. (2/2)
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 13, 2015
All the victims are from Achyutapuram near Visakhapatnam.
