At least four individuals lost their lives, and seven others sustained severe injuries when a speeding truck collided with a wedding party in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district. The tragic incident occurred on the Amaravati-Anantapur national highway near Cumbum, where the truck struck an auto-rickshaw carrying the wedding attendees. The bride was injured, while four of her family members died, and additional individuals were harmed.
The wedding group, consisting of 14 members, was en route from Giddalur town to Cumbum when the auto-rickshaw halted by the roadside for a temple ritual after midnight. Tragedy struck as a speeding truck crashed into their vehicle, resulting in three immediate fatalities and one child succumbing to injuries at a hospital. Seven others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition, and were transferred to hospitals in Cumbum and Markapurama for treatment.
Among the deceased were Alakananda (19), Ankalu (20), the bride’s brother Nagesh, and two-year-old Nagalakshmi. The bride’s mother, Veerakka, is among the injured, with her condition reported as critical. The accident occurred just hours before the scheduled wedding in Cumbum, prompting Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy to express his condolences and ensure the injured receive necessary medical attention. The minister pledged government support to the affected families and urged vigilance to prevent such tragedies.
