Two killed in APSRTC bus-lorry crash on Kadapa-Chennai highway
Synopsis
A head-on crash between an APSRTC bus and a lorry on the Kadapa-Chennai national highway killed two people — including a two-year-old — and left 15 others injured. The lorry was reportedly being driven by a cleaner because the driver had dozed off, raising serious questions about fatigue and oversight on India's long-haul freight routes.
Key Takeaways
A two-year-old child and a 16-year-old girl, Yashwitha , were killed in the crash near Udumvaripalli , Tirupati district , on 22 June .
The APSRTC Tirupati-Kadapa Super Luxury bus was carrying 37 passengers ; 16 sustained grievous injuries.
The lorry was reportedly being operated by the cleaner after the driver fell asleep — a key focus of the police investigation.
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Revenue Minister Anagani Satyaprasad expressed condolences and directed advanced medical care for the critically injured.
Injured passengers were shifted to Rajampeta Government Hospital and RIMS, Kadapa ; some remain in critical condition.
Two persons, including a two-year-old child, were killed and 15 others injured after an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus collided head-on with a lorry on the Kadapa-Chennai national highway near Udumvaripalli in Pullampeta mandal, Tirupati district, in the early hours of Monday, 22 June. The bus was carrying 37 passengers at the time of the crash, with 16 sustaining grievous injuries.
How the Collision Occurred
The APSRTC Tirupati-Kadapa Super Luxury bus was en route from Tirupati to Kadapa when a lorry travelling in the opposite direction — from Yerraguntla toward Chennai — rammed into it near Udumvaripalli. According to police, the lorry was reportedly being driven by the cleaner at the time, as the designated driver had fallen asleep. The toddler died at the scene of the crash.
Casualties and Medical Response
The injured were transported by ambulance to the Government Hospital at Rajampeta. Those with more severe injuries were subsequently shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Kadapa, where a 16-year-old girl identified as Yashwitha succumbed to her injuries. The condition of several other victims is reported to be critical. Police rushed to the site and initiated rescue and relief operations immediately after the crash.
Government Response
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy expressed shock over the accident and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased — Puneeth Sai and student Yashwitha. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for all injured passengers and advised that those with severe injuries be moved to advanced medical centres. The Minister also spoke with officials by phone regarding road safety standards and the circumstances involving the vehicles.
Minister for Revenue, Registration and Stamps Anagani Satyaprasad, who also serves as the Minister-in-charge of Tirupati district, similarly expressed shock and directed officials to arrange advanced medical care for the critically injured. Both ministers assured the affected families of full government support.
Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case and launched a formal investigation into the crash. The alleged lapse — a cleaner operating a heavy goods vehicle while the driver slept — is expected to be a focal point of the probe. This comes amid recurring concerns over fatigued driving on long-haul national highway routes in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities are yet to announce whether the lorry owner or transport operator faces charges.
Point of View
And it deserves more scrutiny than ministerial condolence statements. Fatigued driving by unqualified operators on national highways is a documented, recurring cause of fatal road accidents in India, yet enforcement of rest-period mandates for freight vehicles remains inconsistent. Both ministers have promised 'appropriate measures' — a phrase that has followed countless highway tragedies without producing systemic change. The real accountability question is whether the lorry's owner and transport operator face charges, not just the cleaner who was put in an impossible position.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the APSRTC bus accident in Tirupati district?
An APSRTC Tirupati-Kadapa Super Luxury bus collided head-on with a lorry on the Kadapa-Chennai national highway near Udumvaripalli in Pullampeta mandal, Tirupati district, on 22 June. Two people were killed — a two-year-old child and a 16-year-old girl named Yashwitha — and 15 others were injured.
Why did the lorry crash into the APSRTC bus?
According to police, the lorry was reportedly being driven by the vehicle's cleaner at the time of the crash, as the designated driver had fallen asleep. Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances.
Where are the injured being treated?
The injured were initially taken to the Government Hospital at Rajampeta. Those with severe injuries were subsequently transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Kadapa. Several victims are reported to be in critical condition.
Who were the victims killed in the Tirupati highway crash?
The two fatalities have been identified as Puneeth Sai, a two-year-old child who died at the scene, and Yashwitha, a 16-year-old student who succumbed to her injuries at RIMS, Kadapa.
What action has the Andhra Pradesh government taken after the accident?
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy directed authorities to provide the best medical care for the injured and advised shifting critically injured patients to advanced medical centres. Revenue Minister Anagani Satyaprasad also directed officials to arrange advanced care and assured government support to the families of the deceased. Police have registered a case and begun an investigation.
