The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : 12 feared dead as lorry is washed away

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

12 feared dead as lorry is washed away

Staff Reporter

Seven bodies found between Narakullapadu and Maddur

The lorry was carrying 30 passengers; five of a family feared dead
Driver lost control while he was near the middle of an overflowing stream

NARAKULLAPADU (Guntur Dt.): Twelve persons were feared dead when a sand tipper, carrying 30 passengers, was washed away at a causeway on the Maddur vagu (irrigation drain from paddy fields), on the Guntur-Amaravati main road at noon on Sunday.

While 11 persons swam to safety, seven bodies were recovered from the bushes between Narakullapadu and Maddur. The remaining 12 persons are missing. The lorry, belonging to Sri Venkateswara Lorry Service (with Kakinada registration: AP5T3155), was lifted with the help of a crane at 7.20 p.m.

Rescue operations

Rescue and search operations were continuing till late in the night by Fire Services, police and local divers. According to survivors, the lorry driver lost control when he was close to the middle of the stream, where water was flowing seven feet above the road, and veered to the right towards the water current.

The vehicle overturned and was not visible till 7 p.m. Divers tied ropes in an attempt to lift the vehicle.

Following heavy rain since Friday, all rivulets and drains were overflowing. The RTC had suspended services beyond Endrai village on the Guntur-Amaravati road since Saturday morning. People boarded the tipper between Guntur and Endrai. Among those feared dead were five of a family hailing from Parsa village. Heavy flow in the stream hampered rescue operations.

Three of the dead have been identified as Segu Sambrajyam (55) of 75 Tallur Village, Sai (11), son of an FCI employee in Guntur and Kazaa Bee (35) of Krosur. Bodies of three adults and a one-and-a-half year old child have not yet been identified.

Transport Minister Kanna Laxminarayana, , Tadikonda MLA Dokka Manukya Vara Prasad Rao, and other officials supervised the rescue operations.

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