VISAKHAPATNAM: Rescue teams, including NDRF, have located the bodies of Gemmeli Kumar (25) and Gemmela Lakshmi (52), residents of Sitapadu village, Bheempolu Panchayat, Anantagiri mandal, who were among three individuals swept away in the sudden surge of the Luvvagedda or Bheempolu Gedda stream.
The trio, returning from the Kasipatnam weekly market to their native village, encountered the tragedy on Wednesday.
Efforts are ongoing to locate the third missing person, Miriyala Kamala (42), from the same village. The bodies of Gemmeli Lakshmi and Gemmeli Kumar were discovered at Kottavalasa village and the shores of Gostani River near Kasipatnam, respectively.
The district authorities, aided by SDRF personnel, retrieved the bodies and transported them to S Kota Hospital for postmortem. Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Project Officer Abhishek announced a one lakh rupees ex-gratia for each deceased person's family.
ZPTC member Gangaraju urged the government to provide Rs. 10 lakh ex-gratia, one job for the Anganwadi teacher's family, and the construction of a bridge to replace the causeway where the tragic incident occurred.
