A view of the site where three persons were washed away in a drain near DIET College in Rayachoti of Annamayya district on September 19, 2025. Photo: Special Arrangement
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A heavy spell of rain late on Friday night (September 19, 2025) wreaked havoc in Rayachoti town of Annamayya district, leaving four persons dead, and one girl child missing in two separate incidents.
When the district administration was busy deploying the rescue teams, tragedy struck the S.N. Colony locality of Rayachoti. Sheikh Munni (27) and her six-year-old son, Sheikh Ilyas, were caught in the swirling floodwaters.
A local youth, Vangal Ganesh (30), rushed to their rescue. But the trio was pulled into the swirling waters of an open drain. After a frantic search by the police and officials, their bodies were found at a drain behind a private function hall around midnight.
In another incident, an autorickshaw carrying seven schoolchildren from a tuition centre was swept away at a colony road near the DIET College. The driver could not notice a ditch in the middle of the road. After falling into the ditch, the auto was pulled into an adjoining overflowing drain. Local people rushed to the spot, and managed to save six children, while one girl, identified as Yamini (8) of Madhavaram village nearby, was pulled into the vortex. Her body was traced in the early hours of Saturday (September 20, 2025).
The double tragedy led to a deep shock among the residents and officials of Rayachoti town. District Collector Nishant Kumar and senior officials from the Revenue and Police Departments visited the accident sites and supervised the relief measures. The Collector said that, as per the directions of the State Government, the families of the deceased would be provided with financial assistance immediately.
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who incidentally is the MLA of Rayachoti, rushed to the town to take stock of the situation. He is expected to visit the residences of the deceased and console the family members.
Meanwhile, the rain subsided in the Annamayya district by the early hours of Saturday (September 20, 2025). The district administration alerted the revenue officials at the mandal and village levels to monitor the flood situation close to the reservoirs and along the banks of the Bahuda river, and make necessary arrangements for the evacuation of the affected people as and when required.
Published – September 20, 2025 01:28 pm IST
