17 Women Drowned in Musi Canal as Truck Dives in it

Yadadri, June 24 (Maxim News): In a tragic incident here this morning, 17 women and a boy drowned and ten others critically injured when the tractor in which they were traveling, fell into the Musi river canal at Lakshmapuram village near Vemulakonda in Yadadri district. All the women victims were going to take part in sowing of cotton seed in the land of one Venkata Narayana.

On receipt of the information, the police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and extricated all the 16 bodies and the injured women from the canal. The police are gathering details about the cause of the accident. The place of accident was reverberated with cries of the kin of the deceased. It is learnt that the tractor driver had lost control over the vehicle and fled immediately after the accident. As the tractor overturned and fell into the canal, none of the victims would come out of the Musi canal.

The police have launched a manhunt for the driver, who reportedly lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction. Local farm workers from nearby fields rushed to the spot and pulled many from neck-deep water under the trailer. At least 15 women labourers suffered grievous injuries and all of them were shifted to Ramaagundam hospital for treatment. Some of the survivors said the tractor driver was driving the vehicle with one hand while smoking a cigarette. It is learnt some 25 women were traveling in the truck to reach their work place. It was also said there were children along with the women and their whereabouts are yet to be ascertained.

Those died include K Lakshmi her daughter Anusha, I Lakshmamma, I Shankaramma, A Ramulamma, Ch Narmada, K Bhagyamma, E Madhavi, J Maramma, P Bhagyamma, B Kavitha, B Swarupa, G Andalu and A Manemma.

KCR shocked, orders best treatment to injured:

On being informed of the ghastly accident, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao took note of the accident and expressed his grief and shock over the incident. Extending his condolences to the kin of the deceased, the Chief Minister ordered the State government to ensure that all necessary medical treatment was provided to the injured. In a message, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the families of those died in the accident. CM also directed the officials concerned to provide better medical care for the injured.

Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy reviewed the relief and rescue operations with the district Collector. He asked TRS legislator P Shekhar Reddy to rush to the spot to supervise the rescue operations. (Maxim News)