The driver of Prachara Ratham, a decorated van resembling chariot of Bhadrachalam-based Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple, was killed and four others on board the Prachara Ratham were injured when the motorised chariot rammed into a tree near Chintur late on Sunday evening.
According to information reaching Khammam, the incident occurred when the driver lost balance over the vehicle on Chintur-Mothugudem road late in the evening. The ratham was proceeding towards Mothugudem to publicise the Pokala Dammakka utsav slated to be held in Bhadrachalam on July 12.
The police identified the deceased as R. Sridhar, 46, the driver of the motorised chariot of Bhadrachalam town. Two of the injured persons were shifted to the district headquarters hospital on Sunday night as their health condition deteriorated.