At least nine pilgrims died and several others were injured when a private travel bus fell into a gorge in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitharamaraju district in the early hours of Friday.

The accident occurred on the Chintur-Naredumilli ghat road when the driver apparently failed to negotiate a sharp turn and hit the safety wall before it fell into the gorge.

The bus carrying 37 people, including two drivers, was heading to Annavaram.

The passengers were all from the Chittoor district who were on their way to Annavaram temple in Kakinada district after visiting Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana.

As there was no mobile phone network coverage in the area where the accident occurred, it took some time for the information to reach the police at Mothugunta.

Police rushed to the spot and launche

See Full Page