According to available information, the driver apparently lost control while negotiating the steep ghat section, resulting in the bus falling into a deep gorge.
Published Dec 12, 2025 | 7:23 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 12, 2025 | 8:44 AM
Accident. Representational Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: A private bus, reportedly carrying around 35 passengers, fell into a gorge in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. The accident took place on the Chintur-Maredumilli Ghat road.
A private bus reportedly carrying around 35 passengers fell into a gorge in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Friday, 12 December. Reports suggested that nine people, including five women, lost their lives in the accident, and five people are critically injured.
The mishap happened between 3.39 and 4 am on Friday.
The passengers, residents of the Chittoor district, were travelling from Araku in Visakhapatnam district to Bhadrachalam. According to sources, the survivors are being shifted to the Bhadrachalam Area Hospital for treatment.
The accident took place on the Chintur-Maredumilli Ghat road. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha and other officials rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operations.
According to available information, the driver apparently lost control while negotiating the steep ghat section, resulting in the bus falling into a deep gorge.
The bus driver was reportedly unfamiliar with the terrain, being a non-local, possibly resulting in the mishap. The forest area was enveloped in thick fog, possibly affecting the visibility of the driver.
Locals, who heard the sound of the accident, rushed immediately to the scene and alerted the police. The rescue operation is ongoing.
The bus, with registration number AP 39 UM 6543, has been completely damaged due to the accident.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on X that he has instructed officials to ensure proper care for the injured.
“The accident involving a private bus carrying passengers near the Chittoor district in Alluri Sitarama Raju has deeply shaken us. It is heartbreaking that several lives were lost in this accident. I have spoken with the officials regarding the accident and gathered details about the assistance being provided to the affected individuals. I have instructed the officials to take all necessary measures to ensure that the injured receive better medical aid. The government will stand by the families of those who lost their lives in the accident,” he said.
