5 Agricultural labourers, all belonging to the SC colony of Sompally village in Burgampadu Mandalam of Khammam district were drowned in the flood waters of Kinnerasani stream this morning.
The incident occurred when a group of 8 labourers was on its way on a bullock cart to work in the fields situated on the other side of the stream. When the bullock cart was stuck up in a hole in the overflowing stream, all the 8 persons jumped from the cart into the water in a bid to save themselves.
While 5 members were washed away in the flood waters, three of them were rescued by the villagers. The villagers’ efforts to save the lives of others ended as a futile exercise as the stream had a sudden bout of flood water and carried them away with it.
Villagers said all the dead were related to each other and were living in the SC colony of Sompally. Senior police and revenue officials have rushed to the spot and promised to help the families of the dead.