swallows innocent lives

Nalgonda: The National Highway-65 (NH-65), linking Vijayawada with Hyderabad has achieved the dubious distinction of being the second most accident-prone highways in the country.

The highway passes through 56 villages of 18 mandals in Rangareddy, undivided Nalgonda and Krishna districts. Thousands of vehicles, including commercial ones, zip through the highway every day. Even after the widening of the highway, travellers have to worry about their safety. There is a need to lay bypass roads in villages and mandal headquarters which include Choutuppal, Chityal, Kethapalli, Kattamguru and Munagala.

Kamineni Y-junction near Chityal is said to be the most accident prone junction. The junction that connects Narketpalli with the highway was laid at a low level obstructing the visibility of the passing vehicles. As many as 15 persons including TDP leader Lal John Pasha were killed while 70 others became physically disabled at the junction so far. It is learnt that the locals here have been appealing to the successive governments for construction of a flyover.

Mallesh of Kattamguru says the villagers are being hit by anonymous vehicles. The police are negligent towards cracking the cases. As many as six persons lost their lives in various accidents at Inupamula village. It may be recalled that a vehicle in the Energy Minister G Jagadishwar Reddy’s convey was hit by an Innova recently, near Yerrasanigudem stage in Kattamguru mandal. The innova hasn’t been traced so far.

Telugu actor Nandamuri Hari Krishna’s son Janaki Ram lost his life near Akupamula in Munagala mandal. The spot along with places such as Inupamula, Mandolagudem, Chittyal police station, Nallabandagudem and Nalgonda Crossroads are identified as black spots. The police failed to take measures to avoid accidents here. Non completion of service roads near the accident-prone areas stands testimony to the official negligence.

By Ashok