Four men observing the ‘Bhavani Deeksha’ died on the spot when a van hit them while they were crossing the national highway on foot at Kathipudi in Kakinada district on Thursday (October 22, 2026) morning.

The incident occurred while they were crossing the road to have tea after the bus, in which they were on their way to Vijayawada, had halted for repairs. At least 40 people observing the ‘Bhavani Deeksha’ were on their way to the Goddess Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada to conclude their ‘deeksha’ on Thursday.

The Prathipadu police rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies of the deceased to the Government General Hospital in Kakinada for post-mortem.

According to an official release issued by Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, the four deceased are natives of Denkada village in Vizianagaram district.

Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy spoke to the Kakinada police and Mr. Harendhira Prasad and directed them to offer timely support to the people observing the ‘deeksha’ and the families of the deceased.