15 died, 18 others injured in bus-lorry smash in Prakasam dist

Hyderabad, Oct 17: At least 15 people, including three children, were killed and 18 others were seriously injured early today when a private travels bus rammed a mini-truck head on at Y. Charlo Palem in Valletivaripalem mandal while on way to Kandukur town in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The bus belongs to Sri Krishna Travels, police said and added that the mini-truck was taking a marriage party of 40 members to Kandukur when the accident took place. Kandukur Inspector of Police Lakshman said due to the impact of the collision, both the speeding vehicles overturned and fell into a canal next to the road. The bus was burnt to ashes. Fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. Police shifted some of the injured to the Kandukur Government Hospital for treatment. At least 12 of the seriously injured were meanwhile shifted to RIMS in Ongole. Except for the driver and his assistant, both of them fled from the scene, there were no passengers in the bus. IANS reports: Transport Minister S. Raghava Rao, who rushed to the accident side, announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh each to the families of those killed. He said the government would bear entire expenses for the treatment of the injured. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragic incident. He directed the transport minister to ensure that best medical treatment is provided to the injured.