Hans News Service Charla (Kothagudem)

“Forty-four truck drivers and labourers stranded at a sand quarry after the Godavari river suddenly swelled in Bhadradri Kothagudem district were rescued by revenue and police officials on Friday,” authorities informed.

The incident occurred near Veerapuram village in Charla mandal where floodwaters inundated the quarry following a sharp rise in the Godavari.

Water reportedly rose to around six feet around the site, trapping workers and truck drivers who had arrived for sand transportation.

On receiving information, Charla Tahsildar Srinivasulu, Circle Inspector Raju Varma, and Sub-Inspector Narsi Reddy rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation with the help of fishing boats and excavators.

All 44 stranded persons were safely shifted to Veerapuram village without any casualties.

The rescued workers said they had entered the quarry on Thursday and Friday for routine operations, but the river level rose suddenly, cutting off their escape route.

The incident caused anxious moments for the workers’ families and prompted an immediate response from the district administration. Officials wearing life jackets ventured into the flooded area to evacuate those trapped.

Meanwhile, the road connecting Kothapalli and Dandupeta villages was submerged under floodwaters, disrupting traffic between the two villages.