Search continues for two youths missing in Veligonda Project feeder canal

Two youths remain missing despite a two-day long search operation after they were allegedly swept away by the waters of the feeder canal of the newly-inaugurated Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project near Dornala in Markapuram district.According to the police, the two youngsters were identified as Kuppala Raj Kumar (23) and his cousin Kuppala Vinay Kumar (23) from Katakanipalle village in Dornala mandal. On Saturday at 12 p.m., the two youths reportedly entered the feeder canal to wash their legs and suddenly slipped into the deep waters.At around 1 p.m., the local residents informed the police officials that the two youths were missing. The police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel immediately launched a search operation. Speaking to The Hindu, district Superintendent of Police (SP) V. Harshavardhan Raju said, “As many as 16 expert swimmers from SDRF teams were deployed and they continued the search operation across Nallamala Sagar till Sunday evening.”“The rescue operation has been a very tough task as the water from the feeder canal flows into the water bodies of surrounding villages. Though the teams have suspended the search after sunset due to poor visibility, they will again resume the search on Monday morning,” he informed.Minister respondsMinister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu spoke to the District Collector and SP about the missing youths. He expressed shock over the incident and ordered the officials to intensify the search operations to locate the bodies of the youths.“As water flows rapidly in the feeder canal, no one should step into the water. People must remain vigilant at Nallamala Sagar, as the uneven terrain makes it difficult to gauge the water depth,” he said, directing the police and Revenue officials to make special security arrangements.Meanwhile, last Monday (August 31), a vehicle carrying four persons who were on their way to see the Krishna river water being released through the project tunnels was washed away by the strong current of a stream near Kalanuthala village in Peddaraveedu mandal of the district. While one person managed to escape, three others were stranded on a tree and were safely rescued with the help of the police and Revenue officials. Published - September 06, 2026 08:46 pm IST