Over 200 marooned due to heavy rains in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 22 (UNI) More than 200 people were marooned and passengers in five buses were stranded in an overflowing rivulet Kundu near Mahanandi in Kurnool district, about 300 km from here, as vehicular traffic on the National Highway was disrupted in the wake of heavy rains today.

The rivulet near Orvakal was overflowing in the wake of incessant rains as the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal crossed the Coast earlier in the day.

The buses, which tried to cross the rivulet at various points, were caught in swirling waters of the rivulet. Initial reports said around 30 passengers were travelling in each of the stranded buses.

Kurnool district authorities have sent an SOS to the state capital to rush a helicopter to rescue the passengers and the marooned villagers near the temple town of Mahanandi.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who will return to Hyderabad later this evening from New Delhi after attending the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was informed. He directed the officials to take up relief measures.

State Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao said all assistance was being provided to the district officials.

UNI