This Article is From Jun 13, 2015

22 Dead After Van Falls in Dowleswaram Barrage in Andhra Pradesh

22 Dead After Van Falls in Dowleswaram Barrage in Andhra Pradesh

The van plunged 25-30 feet into Dowleswaram barrage

Hyderabad:

22 people have died after a van fell into a barrage near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district early this morning.

Eight women and seven children are among the victims. Only a 12-year-old child survived the accident and is admitted in hospital.

The van, carrying pilgrims, was returning from Tirupati. It plunged 25-30 feet into the Dowleswaram barrage in the early hours.

A police official at the spot said, "a group of people were returning from Tirupati after visiting the temple. The vehicle driver appeared to have lost control and hit a wall of the bridge and fell off into Godavari River."

However, the water-level at the point of accident was very shallow, he added.

"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)" Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said in a series of tweets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Loss of lives due to a bus accident in East Godavari district, AP is saddening & unfortunate. My deepest condolences. (sic)"

All the victims are from Achyutapuram near Visakhapatnam.
 

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