Jagtial: A priest went missing in the SRSP canal during Goddess Durga idol immersion in Thatipalli of Mallial mandal on Wednesday.
According to villagers, the priest Bingi Prasad Swamy (44) along with others went to the SRSP canal near Kompalli to immerse the Goddess Durga idol and got down into the canal to clean the idol. While cleaning the idol standing on the stairs, he slipped into the water and was washed away. Though a few youngsters jumped into the canal to rescue Prasad Swamy, he was washed away as there was heavy water flow.
Villagers alerted the police, who have launched a search operation. Choppadandi MLA Sunke Ravishankar spoke with irrigation officials and requested them to stall release of water into the canal to facilitate the search operation.