‘Concern over my son’s safety made me ride 1,400 kilometres’

Teacher goes on a solo rescue mission on a scooter

11/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NIZAMABAD

Rajia Begum travelled from Bodhan to Nellore on her motorcycle to fetch her son.Special Arrangement

At first thought it sounds like mission impossible. But the 1,400 km distance did not deter doting mother Rajia Begum from travelling on her scooter to bring back her younger son Nizamuddin, stranded in Rahamatnagar in Nellore, following the lockdown.

He had gone to Nellore on March 12 to drop his friend from a NEET coaching institute in Hyderabad and got stuck there.

Fearing she would be dissuaded from her mission if she revealed her idea, Rajia Begum set out with a pack of rotis and a 5 litre petrol can on the morning of April 6 and reached Nellore the following day.

She travelled all alone even at night via Kamareddy, Gajwel, Nalgonda, Addanki and Ongole. Concern over the safety of her son overtook her fear of loneliness while traversing State and National Highways.

Her daily drive of 25 km to and from the Mandal Parishad Primary School in Salampad for several years made the teacher a seasoned rider.

Armed with a letter from ACP Jaipal Reddy and a Google map, she hit the highway. “I had to undergo problems en route as food was not available. I took only fruits and relaxed for a few minutes intermittently. I managed to reach Nellore early on April 7. On the return, I dared to travel at night as my son was with me. So, we started our journey at 4 p.m. and reached Bodhan on Wednesday around 3 p.m.”

“My story has gone viral on social media after one of my colleagues posted it on WhatsApp. On the way back home, mediapersons at Kamareddy hosted lunch for us,” she said.