Youth missing after jumping into Jurala canal to escape speeding car

A 22-year-old man is feared to have drowned after he jumped into the downstream canal of the Jurala project in Jogulamba Gadwal district on Sunday (July 20, 2025) evening, reportedly to escape an oncoming car across the project bridge.

The youth, identified as Jinkala Mahesh — a resident of Bhudidapadu village in Manopad mandal and the son of a former sarpanch — was travelling on a two-wheeler with his friend Janakiram when the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Sunday. Janakiram gave a statement that Mahesh was on a phone call while riding the two-wheeler. Police said a car heading from Gadwal towards Atmakur rammed into their vehicle, which was coming from the opposite direction.

Janakiram sustained head injuries from the impact and was taken to a nearby hospital. In a desperate attempt to avoid being hit, Mahesh is believed to have leapt into the canal near the 53rd gate of the Jurala project and has been missing since.

Jogulamba Gadwal Superintendent of Police T. Srinivas Rao said that 25 to 30 of the total 62 gates of the project were open at the time, raising concerns that the strong current may have swept Mahesh downstream. Rescue operations began soon after the incident and continued into Monday, with three police teams deployed to trace the missing youth. Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.