A goods truck was washed away along with its driver while attempting to cross the overflowing Nimmavagu stream at Jannaram village in Khammam on Wednesday. Heavy rains caused by cyclone Montha led to the mishap. Rescue efforts are underway
Khammam: A goods truck was washed away along with its driver in the overflowing Nimmavagu stream at Jannaram village of Enkoor mandal in the district on Wednesday.
The stream on the Pallipadu–Enkoor route had been overflowing since morning due to heavy rains caused by Cyclone Montha in the district. The driver, despite warnings from locals, attempted to cross the low-lying bridge across the stream.
When the truck reached halfway on the bridge, it veered towards the downstream due to the strong water current, which eventually pushed the vehicle into the stream. The district administration engaged an NDRF team to rescue the driver, but he could not be traced even by 6.30 pm.
Enkoor and Konijerla police were monitoring the rescue operations. The missing driver, Arepalli Murali, was a resident of Kapula Bazaar in Aswaraopet in Kothagudem district. At the time of the incident, he was returning to Sujatha Nagar in the district after unloading cotton in the Khammam market.
District Collector Anudeep Durishetty told the media that barricades had been set up on either side of the bridge to stop vehicular movement, but the driver ignored the warning.
