Floodwater suddenly rose to 5-feet and entered both vehicles engines

47 passengers in a A.P. Govt bus was caught in flood waters in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district Yedduvagu at Vutukuru in Krosuru mandal of Guntur district on Thursday. The bus was travelling to Krosuru from Guntur and the auto-rickshaw was going to Krosuru from Vutukuru. The floodwater suddenly rose to five feet and entered both vehicles engines, stalling them.

A local police team soon reached the spot but a strong current prevented them from reaching the vehicle. Pedakurapadu MLA K. Sreedhar briefed A.P. C.M. N. Chandrababu Naidu of the situation and asked for a helicopter to rescue the 57 people.

Mr.Brahmam, a passenger, said he feared the bus would be washed away by the water. He added that the helicopter arrived when the rescue was almost over.

The police, revenue officials and local residents rescued the passengers who had climbed onto the roof of the vehicle ? after six hours with the help of ropes. Another 10 people, who were in an auto-rickshaw, were also rescued.

The Official sources said district Collector Kantilal Dande was making efforts to arrange a helicopter for rescue operation.

Several areas were inundated in Guntur and other districts in Andhra Pradesh due to heavy rains lashing the region since Wednesday.