Amaravati, June 8 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday expressed grief over the accident involving a tourist bus carrying pilgrims from the state’s Nellore district to Varanasi, leaving three dead.

Naidu described the death of three individuals in the accident near Bihar’s Aurangabad on late Sunday as deeply distressing and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.

He spoke with officials regarding the incident and inquired about the medical treatment being provided to the injured, an official release said.

Officials informed him that the bus, carrying 46 pilgrims from Nellore, had collided with another vehicle near Aurangabad. They reported that three people died on the spot and 15 others sustained injuries.

The Chief Minister directed officials to coordinate with the Bihar government to ensure assistance reaches the victims and instructed them to take measures to bring the surviving pilgrims back to their hometowns.

Following the CM’s directives, Andhra Pradesh officials are in constant communication with senior officials and the local administration in Bihar. Passengers who sustained severe injuries have been shifted to the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital in Gaya. Officials stated that all the victims currently undergoing treatment at the hospital are stable.

Officials are holding consultations with the Bihar government regarding the transportation of travellers to their home state.

According to reports, three people were killed, and 20 were injured after the tourist bus collided with a truck-trailer on National Highway 19 in Aurangabad district on Sunday night.

The bus was on its way from Bodh Gaya to Kashi (Varanasi), carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh on a trip to various religious sites.

The collision occurred between Bhediya and Dev Mor in the Mufassil police station area. According to eye-witnesses, the accident took place while the bus driver was attempting to overtake a vehicle.

–IANS

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