The incident unfolded after a private bus carrying devotees from Denkada village suffered a mechanical failure near Kathipudi, forcing the passengers to disembark at a roadside tea stall en route to the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada.
A Scorpio SUV traveling at high speed collided with the pilgrims as they gathered, killing four—Sirigidi Erraiah, Tamlingala Sitaram, Tatipudi Varaprasad, and Bonula Ramana—and leaving two seriously hurt, who were rushed to a hospital in Kakinada.
Police arrived promptly, assisted the injured, and registered a case. Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh released a statement expressing sorrow, vowing government aid for the bereaved families, and calling the tragedy "very heartbreaking."
Residents of Denkada are grappling with shock; families await the probe's findings, while the state police say the investigation will examine the vehicle's speed, road conditions, and the private bus's technical fault.