Bhadrachalam: 40 Bus Passengers Stranded In Forest Amid Heavy Downpour At Midnight

Over 40 passengers spent more than two hours in anxiety after getting stuck in a forest past midnight at Intaluri stream, in the Bhadrachalam forest zone, when two huge trees were uprooted due to heavy rain, accompanied with gusty winds. The stranded passengers complained that the officials did not reach out to them even after being alerted. Reportedly, a few passengers walked up to the place where mobile phone signals were available and called up the officials but none of them responded.

The bus, belonging to Visakhapatnam RTC depot, started at Bhadrachalam at 6 pm on Friday. On the Mothugudem-Sileru highway, the bus had to halt due to the uprooted trees. By the time the bus reached the place, two lorries and a car were also stranded at the place.

With none to help them amidst the continuous downpour and the gusty winds, other motorists passing through the way interfered and removed the trees, with the help of the stranded lorries. For more than two hours, the passengers and the motorists together worked hard to make way for the vehicles through the forest. Just within 1 km from the place, another tree got uprooted and fell on the road blocking their way again. The passengers and motorists tried to clear this obstacle but not able to remove it, the passengers reached the nearby village and brought axes and knives. After cutting a portion of the tree, the vehicles could pass through the route.

Due to the hurdles in the route, the RTC bus which was supposed to reach Sileru at 11 pm on Friday, reached the place at 7 am on Saturday. At Sileru, the passengers freshened themselves and dispersed to their destinations.