In a shocking road accident as many as ten persons including four women and six children were killed when an autorickshaw in which they were travelling fell into a road side agricultural open well between Mupkal and Mendora under Mupkal police station limits late this afternoon. The well is just five feet from the road on its left side from Mupkal to Mendora.
According to preliminary information reaching here, about 20 persons were reportedly travelling in the ill-fated vehicle when the mishap took place. Seven persons including the autorickshaw driver came up safe climbing steps. Police and local authorities have been making efforts to pump out water from the well to trace remaining bodies.
Bodies of a family of four-husband, wife and two children belonging to Vempally village were fished out. The victims belonged to Vempally, Mupkal and Mendora villages. The auto-driver is said to be new to driving and has no licence. The accident occurred when the victims were travelling back home after attending works at Mupkal, located some 50 kilometers north to this district headquarters town.
Since tens and hundreds of people thronged the well rescue operations are getting hampered. Cries of relatives of the victims rent the air. Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao and Commissioner of Police Kartikeya rushed to the spot to supervise rescue operations.
Rash and negligent driving and overcrowd in the vehicle is the reason for the gruesome accident.
Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy expressed his shock over the mishap and extended his sympathies to the victim families. He asked the Collector to take all steps to ensure the delivery of immediate assistance to them.
