In a heartbreaking road accident that occurred late Sunday night, two women lost their lives while nearly 20 others sustained serious injuries after a speeding sand truck crashed into a stationary tractor trolley carrying devotees at Tadwai, Mulugu district. The victims, part of a group of 30 pilgrims from Sitarampuram village in Aswapuram mandal, Kothagudem district, were returning from Medaram after offering prayers to tribal deities Sammakka-Saralamma. The incident unfolded when the group made a brief stop at Tadwai to fetch drinking water from a roadside shop, unaware of the approaching danger.

According to police reports, the sand-laden truck was on its way to Hyderabad from Eturnagaram when it suddenly rammed into the halted tractor trolley. The impact was so severe that two women—identified as Ch. Shwetha (40) and N. Durga (38)—died instantly on the spot. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror as injured pilgrims cried out in pain, many with visible fractures and limb injuries. Locals and bystanders rushed to assist, helping emergency responders evacuate the wounded to the Tadwai Primary Health Centre and the Government District Hospital in Mulugu.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether driver negligence or mechanical failure played a role in the tragedy. The local police are also coordinating with hospital staff to ensure the injured receive timely medical care. The accident has once again raised concerns about the safety of pilgrims traveling in slow-moving, unprotected vehicles on national highways, particularly during the night hours. The state administration is expected to release a formal statement later today, while the families of the deceased have demanded immediate compensation and stricter transport safety enforcement.