Six members of a family, five women and a child, died on the spot when the van they were travelling in plunged into a canal at Kovvali of Denduluru mandal in West Godavari on Thursday. Eluru Rural DSP Venkateswara Rao said eight members of the family, excluding the driver, were returning to their native Mallavilli of Bapulapadu mandal in Krishna district after attending a function at Kovvali.
The accident took place when driver P. Kiranbabu, who was allegedly in an inebriated condition, lost control of the vehicle.
The driver and two other persons, K. Varalakshmi (35) and Chinnala Shanmukha (7), escaped unhurt as the canal was filled with water hyacinth.
The deceased were identified as Chinnala Lakshmi (60), Chinnala Kumari (55), Chinnala Sulochana (60), Chinnala Vijaya (50), Chinnala Lakshmivalli Devi (25) and Chinnala Panyasri (2).
The DSP said that the driver was arrested.
West Godavari Joint Collector reached the spot to supervise the shifting of the bodies to the government hospital in Eluru.