Man Missing After Canal Flood in East Godavari, Niece Rescued

A 52‑year‑old man was swept away and is missing after a canal burst in Gopalapuram village, East Godavari district, on Thursday night. The man, identified as Vijaya Kumar, was riding a two‑wheeler with his niece toward Devarapalli when their vehicle slipped on the Annadevarapeta–Chityala road. Continuous heavy rains caused the irrigation canal to overflow and breach, sending flood water over the road. Both were carried into the canal; the niece managed to cling to a tree branch on the bank. State Disaster Response Force personnel, who were in the area for Cyclone Murusu relief work, pulled her to safety. East Godavari district police said they have deployed teams to scour the canal banks and nearby fields. Local police have opened a missing‑person case at the Gopalapuram police station and continue the search for Vijaya Kumar. Residents were advised to avoid the road until water levels recede. ## Context The SDRF assists in emergencies such as floods and cyclones, while canals in Andhra Pradesh often swell quickly during the monsoon, making nearby roads risky.