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Amaravati, October 17
A family of six, including two children, on a pilgrimage were killed and 15 others injured when a speeding lorry hit their parked van in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday, police said.
The victims, hailing from Old Town in Kurnool, were on their way to a ‘dargah’ in Yellarti when the accident occurred near Pedahoturu village in complete darkness, killing six people on the spot.
The van in which the pilgrims were travelling suffered a breakdown due to an engine problem and the driver had parked it by the roadside for repair.
It was a hit and run case. Most of the passengers got down from the vehicle as it broke down and was being repaired.
Six people sitting in the vehicle were killed instantly while the remaining sustained injuries, a police official in Kurnool said.
The deceased included two children aged nine and seven while the others were in the age group of 17-26, the official said.
The injured had been admitted to the Government General Hospital in Kurnool, police said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy expressed grief over the accident.
The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh each and Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased elders and children, respectively.
Besides, if any of the victims was covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), their kin would get full compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh, officials said.
Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh announced a total relief of Rs 3 lakh to the injured people. PTI
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