Four MGNREGA Workers Killed by Speeding Truck in Andhra Pradesh
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Four women died on the spot after being hit by a speeding tipper truck while on their way to work under the MGNREGA scheme in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada district.
- Two other women sustained serious injuries and are in critical condition at a local hospital.
- State officials have directed authorities to provide the best possible treatment for the survivors, and compensation will be paid to the victims' families.
A tragic accident in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada district has claimed the lives of four women, highlighting the precariousness of daily wage labor and the dangers faced by workers on their way to employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The incident occurred early Saturday morning when a speeding tipper truck collided with a group of six women near the Kovuru bridge as they were heading to take biometric photographs before starting their work. The sheer speed of the truck, which rammed into the women while they were crossing the highway, underscores the urgent need for better road safety measures in such areas.
Four MGNREGA workers run over by truck in Andhra
While four women were declared dead at the scene, two others are battling for their lives in the Kakinada Government General Hospital. State minister P. Narayana has intervened, directing district officials to ensure the survivors receive optimal medical care. Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan has also expressed shock and assured that the families of the deceased would receive prompt compensation.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by rural workers. The assurance of speed breakers at accident-prone crossing points is a welcome step, but it also points to a systemic issue of ensuring safe passage for workers to their designated employment sites. The focus now must be on swift justice for the victims, adequate support for the survivors, and implementing robust safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Instructions have been issued to put up speed breakers at such places, where people cross the roads to attend to work.
Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.