9 persons were killed on the spot and 20 others sustained serious injuries in a freak mishap involving a speeding lorry and an SRTC bus.
According to Prathipadu police, the mishap took place when the SRTC bus, belonging to the Ongole depot, was heading towards Vijayawada from Addanki. The bus collided head-on with a speeding lorry near Yanamadula on Vijayawada-Chennai National Highway No. 5.
"The deceased, including 2 women, are yet to be identified," the police stated.
The injured have been shifted to a hospital in Katuri, and the condition of some of them is stated to be critical.
According to police, the mishap took place as the lorry driver lost control over his vehicle after the truck's front tyre burst.
Minister for Housing Kanna Lakshminarayana and Minister for Rural Development D Manikya Vara Prasad visited the spot.