KURNOOL: Three farm workers are feared to have been swept away in flood waters flowing over a bridge on the Kundu river in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh on Monday evening.
The sub-inspector of Panyam, Ramanjaneyulu Reddy said the three were in a group of eight farmhands returning to Gadigarevula after finishing paddy transplantation in Bhogeswaram village in Gadivemula mandal.
When they came to a low-lying bridge on the river near their village, they found flood waters flowing over it. They decided to brave the crossing. But just as they made it to the middle of the bridge, the water level rose further and the eight farmhands got swept into the river.
Five of them managed to save themselves by either holding onto some branches or swimming ashore. Three of them, identified as K Madamma, V Shivamma and Nasimuddin, were washed away.
Police and revenue officials have started a search and rescue operation on the banks of the river.