Two children go missing as boat overturns in flood-hit A.P.

Even as the state continued to wage a grim battle against one of the worst floods in recent memory, two children travelling in a rescue boat went missing and were feared drowned after it capsized in flood-hit Krishna district on Monday.

The country boat, carrying 11 villagers from an island-village in Avanigadda mandal of Krishna district, keeled over and sank in river Krishna at about 3 pm today, Superintendent of Police D Ramakrishnaiah said.

Nine others, however, swam to safety, he said.

The mishap occurred when the villagers were being evacuated to safer places. A search operation has been launched to locate them, he said.

Meanwhile, the rampaging flood water submerged 38 villages and 16 island-villages on Monday though no loss of human life or livestock has been reported in the district so far.

The district administration expected another 36 villages to be inundated by late this evening.

Rescue and relief efforts are continuing on war footing with the help of the Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force. More than 200 boats, including those of the armed forces, have been pressed into service to provide succour to the flood victims.