An official checking Home Minister V. Anitha’s hand after a drone battery accidentally fell on her hand, during the inaugural ceremony of Amaravati Championship in Tirupati on Monday.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
In a unfortunate turn of events, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha suffered a minor injury to her right hand after the battery of a drone flying low accidently fell onto her hand while she was on the dais during the inauguration of the State-level ‘Amaravati Championship 2026’ at Tarakarama Grounds of S.V. University in Tirupati on Monday.The officials and security personnel present were startled by the unexpected incident. District Superintendent of Police (SP) L. Subbarayudu, who was present on the dais, immediately stepped in to provide first aid to the Minister. Despite the injury, she completed her speech with a bandage on her hand.Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, MLAs, MLCs, and District Collector S. Venkateswar were also present for the inaugural event.Addressing the gathering, the Home Minister said, “Sports academies are being established in Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajamahendravaram, and Kakinada to provide better opportunities for the youth. Over 10,000 students, including 4,500 girls, participated in the Amaravati Championship. The fact that parents and teachers are confidently sending their children to the event stands as a testament to their trust on the government.”New recordMeanwhile, the Amaravati Championship entered the Asia Book of Records following the participation of 2,07,498 athletes from across the State. Officials from the Limca Book of Records presented a certificate to Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman A. Ravi Naidu. He said that 90,000 persons participated at the district level, of which 10,000, were selected to the State level.Recognition and incentivesSports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, on the other hand, announced that the athletes participating in the Amaravati Championship would receive recognition and incentives, alongside prize money totalling ₹92 lakh. With the Central government’s support, ₹75 crore was allocated in 2025 for developing playgrounds in the State, and there is a possibility of securing funds worth ₹200-250 crore this year as well, the Minister said.“The government is prepared to massively develop sports infrastructure across the State over the next three years. Initiatives include increasing the sports quota reservation from 2-3% and filling 382 sports quota posts through the DSC recruitment process, thereby creating opportunities for teaching jobs,” he said.Women’s police stationOn the same day, the Home Minister, along with District in-charge Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, TTD Board Member Panabaka Lakshmi, Collector and SP, inaugurated a women’s police station constructed on an area of 8,480 square feet at a cost of approximately ₹2.70 crore, located at M.R. Palli near the SP office in Tirupati Published - August 24, 2026 08:34 pm IST
