Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh:
Nine persons were today killed when an autorickshaw collided with a van at Kothapeta Mandal in East Godavari district, police said today.
Seven members of a family were killed on the spot and four others were seriously injured when an autorickshaw collided with a van in East Godavari district this morning.
The mishap occurred at around 10 am, when the driver of the autorickshaw, carrying eleven passengers from Kothapeta to Amalapuram, tried to overtake a vehicle at Gollakotavari Palem in Kothapeta mandal of the district, police said.
In the process, the autorickshaw collided with a mini-van coming from the opposite direction, they said.
Eight of the nine deceased were identified as auto driver C Durga Rao (40), his wife Durga (35), his mother Pappayamma (60), aunt Nagamani (45), cousin Balakrishna (35), nephew Nani (13), Venakeswara Rao (25) and Chitti (2).
Two-year-old Chitti died while she was being taken to Kakinada Hospital, while Venkateswara Rao died at Rajahmundry Government hospital during treatment, he said.
Two other seriously injured- Jyothi and Palayya- are undergoing treatment at Rajahmundry Government General Hospital, who received serious injuries, police said adding that the doctors are monitoring their condition.