21 pilgrims killed in road accident in AP

RAJAHMUNDRY: A group of 21 pilgrims, including six children, were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in fell off a bridge here early today, while they were returning after visiting Tirupati Temple, police said.

The victims include nine women, six men and six children, they said, adding, a young boy survived the accident.

Citing preliminary information, a police official at the spot said, "a group of people were returning from Tirupati after visiting the temple. The vehicle driver appeared to have lost control and hit a wall of the bridge and fell off into Gaodavari River."

However, the water-level at the point of accident was very shallow, he said.

All the deceased belonged to Achyutapuram area, near Visakhapatnam.

The incident is understood to have happened in the wee hours and police received information at about 5 AM. The relatives of the deceased have been informed, police said.