The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Miraculous escape for five

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Saturday, May 22, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Miraculous escape for five

Special Correspondent

They cling on to an electric pole for six hours

ONGOLE: Caught in the swirling waters gushing through a breach in Pothurajukalva near Ongole, six persons fought for their lives by clinging to an electric pole for six hours.

Five persons saved themselves, but in sheer helplessness watched a woman, Bapanapalli Kondamma (55), getting washed away. Her body was recovered from the nearby bushes on Friday.

The incident occurred in Netaji Colony near Mangamma College where 150 poor families were living on government land.

Most of the families left their homes for the relief centre at Ongole between 6 and 7 a.m. on Thursday. But six persons, including Alamuri Chennaiah and Narasimha Reddy, did not move out. Chennaiah's mother-in-law, Kondamma, came down from her native village of Poddukurapadu to visit his family 10 days ago. As she found it difficult to leave, Chennaiah, his wife and neighbours, Narasimha Reddy, his wife and another person waited for her. As they were preparing to leave at 10 a.m., they found to their dismay water flooding their homes.

They rushed out and ran towards the highway two kilometres away after wading through 4-5 feet water. When they came close to the highway, they found it impossible to proceed further and tried to return to their village. As the water level began rising menacingly, they clung to an electric pole crying for help. “It was just providence that saved us”, Narasimha Reddy sighed. Kondamma could not hold on for long and was washed away in the gushing waters.

Survivors dazed

Their cries were heard by some people only at 4 p.m. when locals rushed to their help and rescued them with the help of ropes. They were rushed to a private hospital where Chennaiah was found in a critical condition. The survivors were too dazed to speak except thanking God for saving them from the jaws of death.

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Andhra Pradesh