22 killed as van plunges into Godavari

Twenty two people — nine women, seven children and six men, were killed when a van hit the railings of Dowleswaram Cotton Barrage near Rajahmundry and fell into the Godavari in the early hours of Saturday. The deceased, belonging to Ramaiahpeta of Atchyutapuram mandal in Visakhapatnam district, were returning from Tirupati via Vijayawada. Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinna Rajappa reached the spot. The deceased were identified as Eegala Ramana, Venkat, Raju, Seenamma, Rambabu, Kondatalli, Prasad, Kanaka, Kosamma, Apparao (driver of the van), Gopi, Sai, Poorna, Namit, Karthik, Navya, Sandhya and Pavan. Eegala Kiran (7) is being treated in a hospital. Rajahmundry Urban SP S. Harikrishna said the accident took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.   The Hindu