Andhra Pradesh: A predawn bus accident on Friday left nine people dead and 22 others injured after a passenger coach skidded off a ghat road and overturned in a forested stretch near Chintoor, authorities confirmed.
The private bus was on its way from Chittoor towards Bhadrachalam in neighbouring Telangana, carrying 37 occupants including the driver and cleaner. Six passengers escaped unhurt.
Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar said the crash occurred at roughly 4:30 a.m. along the winding Chintoor–Maredumilli route, close to a Durga temple. The vehicle reportedly slipped off a sharp bend and toppled, coming to rest on the slope instead of plunging deeper into the valley—an outcome officials say prevented an even higher death toll.
“Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have missed the curve because visibility was extremely poor due to dense fog,” Bardar said. He added that four of the injured passengers are in critical condition and receiving intensive medical care.
The group was travelling to the Sri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam for a pilgrimage when the incident occurred. Police teams, with the help of locals, carried out rescue operations in the dim morning light, moving the wounded to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the mishap and are assessing whether weather, road conditions, or mechanical issues contributed to the loss of control.
