In a shocking road accident, ten persons, including four women and six children, were killed when an autorickshaw in which they were travelling fell into an open agricultural well on the roadside between Mupkal and Mendora under Mupkal police station limits late on Sunday afternoon. The well was just five feet from the road.
According to preliminary information reaching here, 20 persons were reportedly travelling in the ill-fated vehicle when the mishap took place. Seven persons, including the autorickshaw driver, came up safely by climbing the steps.
Police and local authorities have been making efforts to pump out water from the well to trace the remaining bodies. Local youth who reached the spot immediately actively participated in the rescue operations.
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. With people thronging the accident site, rescue operations are getting hampered. Cries of the relatives of the victims rent the air. District Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao and Commissioner of Police Kartikeya reached the spot to supervise rescue operations.
Rash and negligent driving and overcrowding of the vehicle apparently caused the gruesome accident.
Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy expressed his shock over the mishap.
Pall of gloom
A pall of gloom descended on Vempally, Dharmora, Mendora and Mupkal on Sri Rama Navami as the ten victims of the accident belonged to these villages.
