The accident occurred early morning on December 12, 2025, when a private travel bus plunged into a valley on the Tulasipaka ghat road in the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district. The crash killed nine pilgrims from the Chittoor district and injured 22 others. The bus, operated by Vigneswara Travels, was carrying 37 passengers when it met with the tragic crash around 4 a.m. at a sharp turn on the Chinturu–Maredumilli ghat road.
The passengers were on a tour of north Andhra Pradesh and were travelling from Araku Valley to the Bhadrachalam temple when the mishap occurred.
Rescue operations in Andhra Pradesh
Police teams from Maredumilli and Chintoor arrived at the spot, and local villagers joined them to launch rescue operations. A survivor recalled that they had visited Simhachalam on Thursday and had reached Araku by evening before continuing their journey. They were en route to Bhadrachalam when the bus fell into the valley.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 as compensation for the injured.
CM N. Chandrababu Naidu Tweeted
అల్లూరి సీతారామరాజు జిల్లా చింతూరు వద్ద జరిగిన యాత్రికుల ప్రైవేటు బస్సు ప్రమాదం తీవ్రంగా కలిచివేసింది. ఈ ప్రమాదంలో పలువురు ప్రాణాలు కోల్పోవడం విచారకరం. ప్రమాదంపై అధికారులతో మాట్లాడాను, బాధితులకు అందుతున్న సాయంపై వివరాలు తెలుసుకున్నాను. క్షతగాత్రులకు మెరుగైన వైద్య సాయం అందేలా…
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) December 12, 2025
