Three passengers, including two minor boys, were killed, and 16 others suffered injuries when a passenger autorickshaw went off the road and turned turtle near Rangapur in Wanaparthy district on Friday night.
Chittiamma alias Padmavathi (30) and her 6-year-old nephew died on the spot, while their 7-year-old relative succumbed to his injuries at the Government Hospital in Kurnool in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
The accident occurred at around 10.30 p.m., when the victims, hailing from Pebbair, were returning after attending prayers at a church in Erravalli of Jogulamba-Gadwal district.
According to Pebbair SI Raghavender Reddy, as the auto was overloaded, driver Nagaraju made four people sit on the front seat. Subsequently, he lost control of the vehicle, and it overturned after going off the road.
“However, Nagaraju said that the accident took place when an unidentified vehicle hit his three-wheeler from behind. We have launched a probe to know the exact reason,” he said.
Mr. Reddy said that injured were rushed to hospitals in Wanaparthy, Mahabubnagar, Hyderabad and Kurnool. “Two people undergoing treatment in Hyderabad are battling for life,” the officer added.
