A Telugu news channel journalist went missing after the car he and a colleague were riding in in the Jagtial district of Telangana washed away by floodwaters. NTV journalist Zameeruddin was travelling back to Jagtial with a companion after reporting on the NDRF team’s successful rescue of nine workers who had become trapped in flood waters along the Godavari River at Bornapalli.
Between the villages of Ramojipet and Bhupatipur in the Raikal mandal late on Tuesday, according to the police, swirling water carried away the vehicle the two were riding in. When they attempted to cross a bridge that was flooded over a stream, the tragedy happened. The car veered off the road and was dragged away by the floodwaters.
Zameer vanished, but Lateef managed to get away by grasping a tree. Rescue teams started looking for the missing scribe, but it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that they found him.
After opening the car door, according to Lateef, he was carried away by the flood water until he was able to grab hold of a tree. He wasn’t sure if Zameer had been able to escape or if he was still inside the car.
An official announcement stated Monday night that chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao met with ministers and officials in Hyderabad to discuss the situation resulting from the state’s heavy downpour.
Over the past three days, Jagtial district saw significant to very heavy rains, and more rain is expected over the next days. For a number of districts, including Medak, Siddipet, and Kamareddy district, among others, the weather department has issued an orange alert.
In the Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, three flood warnings have been issued for the Godavari river. In 10 p.m. on Monday, the river Godavari’s level at the district’s Bhadrachalam pushkar ghat had risen to 53.90 feet.
