Tragic Road Accident Claims Lives of Three Karnataka Devotees En Route to Srisailam Temple
In a heartbreaking incident, three devotees from Karnataka lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries when their vehicle met with a tragic accident in Nagarkurnool district on Saturday. The group was traveling to the revered Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh to celebrate the auspicious Mahashivaratri festival.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The victims, hailing from Vijayapura district in Karnataka, had embarked on their pilgrimage from Kalikeri village on Friday night. They were traveling in two vehicles with a total of sixteen people. According to Urkonda Sub-Inspector P Krishna Deva, the accident occurred around 2:30 AM near Timmapally village when one of the vehicles, carrying ten occupants, violently crashed into a roadside culvert.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Ram Reddy Desai, 52, a businessman
- His wife Megha Desai, 38
- Their relative Mahadevi, 68
Immediate Response and Medical Treatment
Following the collision, the other vehicle carrying relatives and helpful passers-by rushed all ten injured individuals to a nearby private hospital in Veldenda. Tragically, three of the injured pilgrims succumbed to their injuries while undergoing medical treatment. Among the seven survivors, two are women, and their condition is currently reported as stable by authorities.
Police Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Police conducted a breath analyser test on the driver, identified as Raju, which returned negative results for alcohol consumption. Preliminary investigations suggest that driver fatigue may have been a contributing factor, with police suspecting Raju might have dozed off at the wheel, leading to the catastrophic accident.
On the complaint filed by family member K Gouda, Urkonda police have registered a formal case under Sections 106(1) for causing death by negligence and 125(a) for causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety under the Bharatiya Naya Sanhita (BNS). After completing the necessary post-mortem examinations, the bodies of the deceased were respectfully handed over to their grieving families.
This tragic incident has cast a shadow over the Mahashivaratri celebrations and serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety during long-distance travel, particularly during religious pilgrimages when devotees often undertake extensive journeys.
