3 devotees killed as truck rams van in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
Synopsis
A speeding truck rammed a stationary van carrying 16 pilgrims near Chelluru in Vizianagaram, killing three — including an eight-year-old boy — and injuring 13 others. The group was bound for a temple in Odisha. Two more crashes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the same night add to a grim toll on the region's highways.
Key Takeaways
Three devotees — including B.
Mohan Naidu , aged 8 — were killed when a truck hit a stationary van near Chelluru, Vizianagaram , past midnight on 28 July .
13 others were injured; one remains in a critical condition at a government hospital in Vizianagaram .
The 16 occupants of the van were pilgrims from Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, travelling to the Majji Gauramma temple in Rayagada, Odisha .
The truck dragged the van approximately 500 metres before stopping; police have registered a case and begun a probe.
In a separate crash in Krishna district , Nunna Suresh , MD of Tirumala Educational Institutions , was killed on the Chennai-Kolkata highway .
A TGSRTC bus accident near Metpally, Jagtial district in Telangana injured 12 passengers on the same night.
Three devotees were killed and 13 others injured when a speeding truck rammed into a stationary van near Chelluru in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, past midnight on 28 July, according to police. The impact was severe enough that the truck dragged the van for approximately 500 metres before coming to a halt.
What Happened at Chelluru
The van was carrying 16 people from three families belonging to Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. They were en route to the Majji Gauramma temple in Rayagada, Odisha, for a religious pilgrimage when the truck struck the stationary vehicle.
Three persons died on the spot, including an eight-year-old boy. The deceased have been identified as Chintapalli Rambabu alias Ramanaidu (50), Majji Narayana Rao (50), and B. Mohan Naidu (8). The 13 injured were admitted to a government hospital in Vizianagaram; the condition of one of them was reported to be critical, according to officials.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the accident.
Second Fatal Crash in Andhra Pradesh
In a separate incident early Tuesday morning, one person was killed on the Chennai-Kolkata highway near Bommaluru in Krishna district. A car rammed into a stationary truck, killing the driver — identified as Nunna Suresh, managing director of Tirumala Educational Institutions in Rajamahendravaram — on the spot. His wife, who was in the passenger seat, sustained injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital. The couple was reportedly travelling from Vijayawada to Rajamahendravaram at the time of the crash.
TGSRTC Bus Hits Tree in Telangana, 12 Injured
A third road accident was reported in neighbouring Telangana, where 12 passengers were injured after a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus hit a roadside tree near Metpally Police Station in Jagtial district. The bus was travelling from Nizamabad to Warangal when the driver reportedly lost control. All injured passengers were admitted to a hospital in Metpally; a probe is underway, officials said.
A Pattern of Deadly Night-Time Road Accidents
The Vizianagaram crash is a grim reminder of the persistent danger posed by overloaded or recklessly driven heavy vehicles on state highways, particularly during late-night hours when pilgrimage groups often travel. Stationary vehicles being struck by speeding trucks is a recurring cause of fatalities on Andhra Pradesh's highway network. Authorities have yet to disclose whether the truck driver has been apprehended.
Point of View
Not a statistical coincidence. Pilgrimage groups travelling in overloaded vans on poorly lit state highways remain acutely vulnerable to heavy vehicle collisions — a risk that traffic enforcement has repeatedly failed to mitigate. The fact that the Vizianagaram truck dragged the van 500 metres suggests the driver may not have been alert, yet early reports make no mention of an arrest. Until accountability for errant truck drivers is swift and public, these incidents will continue to be treated as tragedies rather than preventable failures.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Vizianagaram road accident on 28 July?
A speeding truck rammed into a stationary van near Chelluru in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, past midnight on 28 July, killing three people on the spot and injuring 13 others. The van was carrying 16 pilgrims headed to the Majji Gauramma temple in Rayagada, Odisha.
Who were the victims of the Vizianagaram van accident?
The three deceased were identified as Chintapalli Rambabu alias Ramanaidu (50), Majji Narayana Rao (50), and B. Mohan Naidu (8). The 13 injured were admitted to a government hospital in Vizianagaram, with one in a critical condition.
What caused the accident near Chelluru?
According to police, a speeding truck rammed into the stationary van and dragged it for approximately 500 metres. The accident occurred past midnight; the investigation is ongoing and the cause is yet to be officially confirmed.
Were there other road accidents in the region on the same night?
Yes. In Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, Nunna Suresh — managing director of Tirumala Educational Institutions — was killed when his car hit a stationary truck on the Chennai-Kolkata highway. Separately, 12 passengers were injured when a TGSRTC bus hit a tree near Metpally in Telangana's Jagtial district.
What action has the police taken after the Vizianagaram accident?
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the Vizianagaram crash. No details about the truck driver's status have been disclosed in official statements so far.
