Early Morning Fog Turns Deadly: Nine Pilgrims Die in Chinturu Bus Crash

A tragic bus accident early Friday morning claimed nine lives and left 23 others injured on the Chinturu-Maredumilli ghat road in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district. A private travel bus carrying 35 passengers from Chittoor district lost control at a sharp bend near Tulisipakala and plunged nearly 20 feet into a valley. Officials confirmed that five women and four men died on the spot.

The passengers were returning from a trip to Araku and were heading toward the Sri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam. Around 4:30 a.m., the area was covered in dense fog, making visibility extremely poor. The driver reportedly misjudged the dangerous curve on the ghat section. The bus struck a protective retaining wall - popularly known as the “China wall” - and overturned before rolling down the slope.

Police teams led by SP Amit Bardar, along with local residents, immediately rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. The injured were taken to the Chinturu Area Hospital, while those with serious injuries were shifted to the Government Hospital in Bhadrachalam. The Motugudem Police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 106 for negligent driving and are investigating the incident.

The accident drew widespread condolences from national and state leaders. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and grief. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and other political leaders extended their sympathies to the families of the victims.

On the Chief Minister’s instructions, Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy visited the hospitals to meet the injured. The state government announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for each victim’s family, while the central government announced an additional ₹2 lakh. Injured passengers will receive ₹2 lakh from the state and ₹50,000 from the Centre as financial assistance.