5 members of a family were killed, while 2 others sustained injuries, when a lorry driver lost control over his vehicle and ran over them near the GNC toll gate on the way to the hill shrine of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala on Wednesday.
According to Tirumala police station Inspector Venkatanada Reddy, the victims who died on the spot have been identified as Venkateshwara Rao, Venkataramani, Durga and Manikanta. They were residents of Amalapuram in East Godavari district.
Another woman, Krishnaveni, who sustained serious injuries, died at SVR Ruia Hospital in Tirupati while undergoing treatment.
The condition of 2 children - Lakshmi and Suresh — who are undergoing treatment for their injuries, is stated to be out of danger.
The police said the mishap occurred when the driver of the sand-laden lorry lost control of the vehicle, following a brake failure, and hit devotees walking on a road divider on the road to Tirumala.
Meanwhile TTD authorities have announced Rs. 2 lakh as compensation each to next of kin of the victims.
Following the mishap, a pall of gloom prevailed on the hill shrine.