On October 22, 2026, a group of Bhavani devotees from Denkada village in Vizianagaram district embarked on a journey to Vijayawada for goddess darshan. The devotees boarded a private bus for the pilgrimage to Vijayawada.
As the bus traveled along the Kathipudi national highway near the Ravikampadu junction in Kakinada district, it developed a technical snag. The driver parked the vehicle on the roadside. The devotees walked to a nearby shop for tea.
Four people died after being hit by a speeding SUV in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada District today morning. "Around 40 Bhavani devotees from Denkada mandal in Vizianagaram district were travelling to Vijayawada in a private bus. When the bus developed a technical snag, the driver stopped it by the roadside at Kathipudi in Prathipadu constituency. The devotees got off the bus to have tea and were crossing the road when a speeding SUV hit them. Three people died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries while being shifted to the hospital," says Transport Minister Ram Prasad Reddy.
A speeding Scorpio vehicle lost control and rammed into the devotees. The impact left four devotees dead on the spot and two others seriously injured.
A fifth devotee died while being transported to the hospital, bringing the total death toll to five devotees.
A fifth devotee died while being transported to the hospital, bringing the total death toll to five devotees.
Andhra Pradesh: Four killed as speeding SUV hits devotees in Kakinada #AndhraPradesh #SUV https://t.co/DWa5OB793V
Police registered a case, identified four of the deceased as Chirigidi Erraiah (38), Lingala Seetharam (45), Bonela Sattibabu (40), and Tadipudi Sivaprasad (40), and are investigating the incident.
The tragic crash involved devotees traveling from Vizianagaram district to Vijayawada, prompting police to investigate the sequence of events.
Four Bhavani devotees from Vizianagaram district were killed and two others seriously injured after a speeding Scorpio SUV rammed into them near Kathipudi–Ravikampadu Junction in Kakinada. They were heading to Vijayawada to seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple. #AndhraPradesh
The accident on the Kathipudi national highway near Kakinada serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with speeding and the importance of road safety.
- Date of the Accident: October 22, 2026 - Number of Deaths: Four devotees died on the spot - Total Death Toll: Five devotees lost their lives - Ages of the Deceased: - Chirigidi Erraiah: 38 years old - Lingala Seetharam: 45 years old - Bonela Sattibabu: 40 years old - Tadipudi Sivaprasad: 40 years old