9 killed in auto-bus collision in AP

Nine persons were killed and four others injured when an autorickshaw and a bus collided at Somayajulapalle in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh early today, police said.

The autorickshaw was coming on the wrong side when the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus hit it on the Kurnool-Nandyal main road, police and the corporation said.

There were around 13 passengers in the seven-seater autorickshaw which was going to Mahanandi.

Seven of them were killed on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries in a hospital in Kurnool.

The four injured, including the auto driver, had been admitted to the government hospital in Kurnool, a senior police official said.

"The accident occurred only because the auto plied on the wrong direction. We are enquiring with the RTC bus driver on how exactly it happened," the official said.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Transport Minister K Atchannaidu, RTC Chairman Varla Ramaiah and Managing Director N V Surendra Babu expressed grief over the accident.