Dr K Priyanka Cremated in Eklaspur as Family Demands Murder Charges

The mortal remains of Dr K. Priyanka, a 29-year-old postgraduate medical student who died following a hit-and-run incident in Andhra Pradesh, were cremated in her native village of Eklaspur in Gadwal district on Monday evening. Family members, colleagues, and supporters gathered at Eklaspur holding placards to demand justice as her final rites were performed on her family's farmland.

Dr Priyanka, who was pursuing an MD in DVL at GSL Medical College in Rajahmahendravaram, died on Sunday afternoon at a private hospital in Hyderabad. She had been receiving medical care after a car ran over her at a mall in Rajamahendravaram on August 3. Following the incident, police initially registered a case for rash and negligent driving before altering the charge to culpable homicide against two individuals, Suravarapu Daswanth of Morampudi and Desabhakhtula Andrew Joseph Edward of Lalacheruvum.

Dr Priyanka's father, Venkatesh, demanded the death penalty for those responsible for her death. Her brother, Varaprasad, stated that the family wants the accused to be booked for attempt to murder. He added that the family had travelled from Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh after learning her condition was critical, fearing local influence could affect the case, but received assurances from police that evidence would be protected.

Prior to the cremation, a post-mortem examination was conducted at Gandhi Government Hospital on Monday. Telangana Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari and former Congress MLA S.A.A. Sampath Kumar paid floral tributes at Gandhi Hospital and offered condolences to the family. Srihari stated that the Telangana government would extend assistance to the family, while Sampath Kumar accompanied the family as her body was transported to Eklaspur.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced an ex gratia payment of ₹20 lakh for the family, confirming that the accused had been arrested and remanded in jail. Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha and medical organizations—including the Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (T-JUDA), the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association, and the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association—demanded a transparent, time-bound investigation and the preservation of CCTV footage.