4 killed in Visakhapatnam highway crash on Kolkata-Chennai NH
Synopsis
A car travelling to a wedding veered into a lorry on the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway near Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Sunday, killing four people including an 11-year-old boy. The sole survivor, the child's father, is hospitalised in Bheemili. Both the Transport and Home Ministers have responded, directing officials to ensure medical care and extending condolences.
Key Takeaways
Four people were killed and one injured in a car-lorry collision on 19 July near Gandigundam, Visakhapatnam .
Ramanjaneyulu (51) , Sheikh Meera Vali (56) , M.
Bhavani Shankar (11) , and driver Srinu .
The group was travelling from Palnadu district to attend a wedding in Tekkali, Srikakulam district .
Chandrasekhar , father of the deceased child, is admitted to a hospital in Bheemili .
Police say the driver lost control while attempting to overtake the lorry at high speed on the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway .
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Home Minister V.
Anita have both expressed condolences and directed officials to ensure medical care for the injured.
Four people were killed and one injured in the early hours of Sunday, 19 July, when a speeding car rammed into a lorry on the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway near Gandigundam, between Pendurthi and Anandapuram in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, according to police. The group was travelling from Palnadu district to attend a wedding in Tekkali, Srikakulam district, when the accident occurred.
Who the Victims Were
The four killed on the spot were identified as P. Ramanjaneyulu (51), of Inumella village in Epuru mandal, Palnadu district; Sheikh Meera Vali (56); M. Bhavani Shankar (11); and the car's driver, Srinu. The sole survivor, M. Chandrasekhar — a nursing home manager from Narsaraopet and father of the deceased child Bhavani Shankar — was admitted to a hospital in Bheemili with injuries.
The group had departed Saturday night to attend a wedding in Tekkali, making this a journey that turned fatal before dawn.
How the Crash Happened
According to police, the car was being driven at high speed when the driver attempted to overtake a lorry near Anandapuram. The driver lost control during the manoeuvre and the car collided with the lorry from behind. The vehicle was badly mangled in the impact, leaving no chance of survival for four of the five occupants.
Notably, the stretch of the Kolkata-Chennai highway in this region has witnessed multiple fatal accidents, raising recurring questions about road safety enforcement on national highway corridors through Andhra Pradesh.
What the Government Said
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy expressed deep shock over the accident, conveying condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to ensure that the injured Chandrasekhar receives advanced medical treatment, and appealed to the public to strictly follow road safety regulations.
State Home Minister V. Anita also reacted to the tragedy, saying the accident had caused profound shock. She spoke directly to officials and directed them to provide the best possible medical care to the injured. Anita assured that the government would stand by the affected families in every possible way.
Road Safety Context
Fatal highway accidents involving cars and heavy vehicles remain a persistent concern across Andhra Pradesh. High-speed driving and unsafe overtaking on national highway stretches — particularly during night travel — are among the leading causes cited in police reports. This incident underscores the human cost of such behaviour on poorly lit or inadequately patrolled stretches.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to examine whether the highway stretch near Gandigundam requires additional safety infrastructure such as rumble strips, speed cameras, or improved signage.
Point of View
High-speed overtaking of heavy vehicles, is among the most preventable categories of road deaths. Ministerial condolences, however sincere, are a recurring response that has not demonstrably reduced fatality rates on these stretches. The real accountability question is whether the state's highway safety infrastructure — speed enforcement cameras, median barriers, lorry speed limiters — is being deployed at scale, or whether such accidents will simply continue to be mourned and forgotten.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Visakhapatnam highway accident on 19 July?
A car carrying five people from Palnadu district rammed into a lorry on the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway near Gandigundam, Visakhapatnam, in the early hours of 19 July. Four occupants were killed on the spot and one was hospitalised.
Who were the victims of the Visakhapatnam car accident?
The four deceased were P. Ramanjaneyulu (51), Sheikh Meera Vali (56), M. Bhavani Shankar (11), and the car's driver Srinu. The survivor, M. Chandrasekhar — father of the child — is receiving treatment at a hospital in Bheemili.
What caused the accident near Gandigundam?
According to police, the car was being driven at high speed and the driver lost control while attempting to overtake a lorry, resulting in a rear-end collision. The car was badly mangled in the crash.
Where were the victims travelling when the accident occurred?
The group had left Palnadu district on Saturday night to attend a wedding in Tekkali, Srikakulam district. The accident occurred before dawn near Anandapuram in Visakhapatnam district.
How did the Andhra Pradesh government respond to the accident?
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Home Minister V. Anita both expressed shock and condolences. Both ministers directed officials to ensure advanced medical treatment for the injured survivor, M. Chandrasekhar, and assured support to the bereaved families.
