In a tragic incident here this morning, 15 women and a boy drowned and ten others critically injured when the tractor in which they were travelling, 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 the accident has 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 travelling in the truck to reach their workplace. 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.