Six killed as van rams into tree

Rajampet (Kadapa): Six persons were killed and seven others sustained serious injuries in the early hours of Tuesday when the van in which they were travelling to Tirumala hit a road-side tree near Puthanavaripalle village in this mandal. The mishap occurred as the driver was going at break-neck speed and lost control of the vehicle. He allegedly dozed off for a brief while.

A boy aged five years standing near the tree was among those killed. Five victims hailed from Lingala village in Mahabubnagar district. They were members of Balu Naik’s family. Among the dead were three children, Mannoor SI Sudhakar said. They died in sleep. The injured were admitted to the government hospital here. The boy was identified as Venkateshwara Prasad of Sriramulupet in Pullampet mandal. His sister had brought him to the spot on a moped to collect green vegetable from the tree (‘Chinta Chiguru’). She escaped as she was atop the tree. The SI said high speed was the cause of the accident. Following the death of five villagers in the mishap a pal of gloom prevailed in Lingala.