The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Watery grave for five of a family

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 11, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Watery grave for five of a family

P. Samuel Jonathan

—Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

Relatives of the dead wail at Narakullapadu in Guntur district.

NARAKULLAPADU (GUNTUR DT): The tragic Sunday will continue to haunt Saniga Subba Reddy of Parsa village, for he had lost five of his near and dear ones. The family came to Tadikonda to take part in the festivities relating to installation of Sri Venugopala Swamy a couple of days ago and is set to return home by Sunday afternoon. Five members of his family, including his wife Malleswari, his daughter Mounuika, his grand daughter Lakhsmi, his niece Guthikonda Lakshmi and nephew Gopi Reddy got into the sand tipper at the cross road of Endraye and were seated in the driver’s cabin. Even though the Endrai drain was in full spate, the driver was able to negotiate it safely and traversed about 5 k.m. to reach Madduru Vagu. As the lorry was negotiating the swirling waters of the drain on the narrow causeway, the driver lost control of the lorry, which overturned and fell into a deep pit.

The sight of the father and his daughter weeping inconsolably as the lorry was being pulled out from the 15 feet pit onto the surface moved the onlookers. Among the 19 people feared drowned in the tragedy, there were five members from his family, including an infant.

The lorry was pulled ashore a little after 7 p.m. but still their bodies could not be traced. The police and forest officers were supervising the rescue operations.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh