40 migrant workers rescued

olice and revenue officials from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on Tuesday morning rescued around 40 migrant workers at P. Sadum village of Pedda Tippa Samudram (PTM) mandal bordering Karnataka, some 150 km from Chittoor, after floodwaters from Papagni river and Cherluru rivulet inundated their temporary shelters.

The workers, including women and children, are from Penugonda in Anantapur district.

Charcoal sellers

They keep migrating from one to place to another, camping along riverbeds, cutting thorny bushes and making charcoal. They make a living by selling charcoal to laundry units and hotels.

They were camping on the border near Papagni river and Cheluru rivulet in Bagepalle taluk of Karnataka when floods struck in the early hours of Tuesday.

Brick kiln unit

Floodwaters from both sides inundated their shelters, and they had to seek refuge in a nearby brick kiln unit.

Alerted by people of the surrounding hamlets in PTM mandal and Bagepalle taluk, police and revenue officials from both sides rushed to the spot around 6 a.m. and rescued all workers using ropes and with the help of experienced swimmers by 8 a.m.

Sub-Collector (Madanapalle Division) Dr. A. Mallikarjuna said all workers were safe and added that they had been shifted to a relief centre.