Three passengers in an autorickshaw were killed and three others injured after the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a car coming from the opposite direction at Tanavaddipalle village in Mudupula Vemula panchayat of Piler mandal in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Friday (June 26, 2026).

According to the Piler Circle police, eight residents of Regalla village were returning from Dudekulapalle in neighbouring Kalikiri mandal after attending the Pirla Panduga as part of the Muharram observances when the accident occurred. A car travelling from Tirumala towards Sambepalle allegedly collided head-on with the share-auto.

The impact killed the autorickshaw driver, Mubhakarak (37), and Mehrun Bhi (35) on the spot. Another passenger, Venkat (30), who sustained critical injuries, was shifted to the government hospital in Tirupati, where he later died.

Three others, including two women and a nine-month-old baby, suffered minor injuries and are undergoing treatment. The police said a case had been registered and the car driver taken into custody. Further investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, Annamayya district in-charge and Minister for Roads and Buildings B.C. Janardhan Reddy expressed shock over the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He directed district authorities to ensure the injured receive quality medical care.