Kurnool flyover hit-and-run kills APSP head constable on morning jog
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A police head constable was killed in a suspected hit-and-run incident on a flyover in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday, 14 July, after an unidentified vehicle struck him while he was on his morning jog along a national highway. The victim, Varaprasad Reddy (43), a head constable with the second battalion of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP), fell from the flyover onto the road below and died on the spot.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to police, the incident took place near Bellari Chowrasta in Kurnool town during the early morning hours. Reddy was jogging on the flyover over the national highway when the unidentified vehicle hit him. The impact threw him off the elevated structure onto the road beneath, where he succumbed to his injuries. Police subsequently shifted his body to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. The vehicle involved has not yet been identified.
Home Minister Expresses Grief, Orders Inquiry
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha expressed grief over the death, calling it painful to lose an officer who had served with dedication. She conveyed her condolences to Reddy's family and assured them of the government's full support. The minister also directed officials to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident and take appropriate action regarding the causes of the accident.
Second Andhra Police Death in Three Days
Reddy's death marks the second fatality among Andhra Pradesh police personnel in road accidents within three days. On 12 July, Armed Reserve constable Mariyadas (36) was killed in Ongole town in Prakasam district when a car driver lost control and struck him as he rode a bicycle on the bypass road. After hitting the bicycle, the vehicle rammed into an autorickshaw and a two-wheeler, leaving three other persons with minor injuries. Mariyadas sustained critical injuries and died on the spot.
Broader Road Safety Concerns
The back-to-back deaths of serving police personnel in road accidents have drawn attention to road safety conditions on Andhra Pradesh's national highways and urban bypass routes. Hit-and-run incidents on flyovers and bypass roads — where vehicles often travel at higher speeds — pose a heightened risk to pedestrians and cyclists, including off-duty personnel. Authorities are yet to announce any specific road safety measures in response to the two incidents. The investigation into the Kurnool flyover case is ongoing.