Alluri Sitharama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh: A tragic bus accident in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitharama Raju district has claimed the lives of at least nine people and left approximately 20 others injured. The incident occurred early Friday morning on a challenging ghat road between Chinturu and Bhadrachalam, near Tulasipakalu village.

The private bus, carrying around 35 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a gorge at approximately 5:30 AM. The bus was transporting tourists from the Chittoor district who had visited the Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana and were en route to Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh.

News of the accident was delayed due to the remote location and lack of communication facilities in the forest area. Rescue teams, including police and local volunteers, faced difficulties reaching the site and extricating the trapped passengers from the mangled vehicle. Injured passengers were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Chintur and Rampachodavaram hospitals, with those critically injured being transferred to larger medical facilities for advanced care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound grief over the accident. In a statement, he conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time," the Prime Minister stated.

Recognizing the immediate need for support, Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. Additionally, Rs 50,000 will be provided to those who sustained injuries in the accident.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also expressed shock and anguish over the tragedy. He directed officials to expedite rescue operations and ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care. The Chief Minister has ordered a thorough investigation into the accident to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future. Home Minister V. Anitha and Tribal Welfare and Women and Child Welfare Minister G. Sandhya Rani visited the accident site to oversee relief efforts and support the victims.

Preliminary investigations suggest the driver losing control of the vehicle may have caused the accident. Authorities are also looking into other potential factors, including road conditions and vehicle maintenance.