12 people drown in Andhra, one still missing

The tragedy occurred late Tuesday when a Tata Sumo vehicle carrying 16 people was caught in the swirling waters of the stream and overturned.

Rescue workers recovered 12 bodies from Malledavagu stream at Pittambanda village near Vinukonda Wednesday morning, some 300 km from here, a police officer said.
Eyewitnesses said the driver was warned against crossing the stream, swollen after the incessant rains of the past few days, but he ignored the warnings.

Locals later rescued the driver Anil and two others.Hailing from Addanki in Prakasam district, the victims were returning home after attending a village festival at Karampudi.Search operations for the remaining person is still on, he added.