Driver charred to death as lorries collide head-on

Jeelugumilli (West Godavari): A lorry driver was charred to death in a fire that broke out when his vehicle collided with another lorry head-on near Ramanankkapet village of Jeelugumilli mandal in West Godavari district early on Saturday. The driver's body was trapped inside the mutilated cabin of his vehicle. The victim was identified as Appanna of Kattipudi mandal. Some passengers travelling in the second lorry suffered burns. The injured were rushed to hospitals at Jangareddigudem and Aswaraopet for treatment. Appanna's coal-laden truck, which was travelling from Visakhapatnam to Bhadrachalam, was gutted in the fire. However, the second lorry, which was on its way to Kakinada port from Khammam with the load of maize, was partially damaged. The fire fighting personnel could contain the flames on the second lorry. The burnt maize seeds, however, were spilled all over the accident site. The incident took place around 4 am. Following the accident, there was traffic jam on both side of the road stretching to several kilometers. Two 108 vehicles were pressed into service to rescue victims of the road accident.