ANANTAPUR: Three women were washed away while trying to cross the overflowing Kundu River near Gadigarevu village in Gadivemula mandal in Kurnool district on Monday. Five others managed to grab onto trees and return to safety with the help of ropes.
When 13 agriculture labourers working on the outskirts of Gadi-garevu village crossed the Kundu River to get to work on Monday morning, the water was flowing gently.
However, by the time they returned home that afternoon, the river was overflowing as a result of heavy downpours upstream.
Eight persons entered the water in an attempt to cross the river, but when they reached the midpoint they realised that the force of the water was too strong. Some of them managed to grab onto bushes and branches of trees to save themselves.
Hearing their cries for help, a fisherman rushed to the spot and helped them out of the water using ropes. Five people were rescued safely, while three were washed away. They were identified as K. Siddamma, 35, B. Maddamma, 42, and Naseemul, 32. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and launched a search for the missing women.
