Telangana: 10 rescue personnel missing as boats capsize in floodwaters

In Telangana, at least 10 SDRF personnel were feared missing after their boats were suspected to have capsized during an operation to rescue fishermen in a swollen lake in Khammam district on Wednesday evening, official sources said. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were carrying out an operation in two boats to rescue a group of fishermen stranded in Bethupalli lake in Sathupalli mandal of the district. According to sources, five fishermen were stranded in the floodwaters after the lake began overflowing due to heavy rains. They had initially gone there to set up fishing nets. Three fire department personnel first set out in a boat to rescue them, but they were also trapped in the floodwaters. Subsequently, six personnel from the Kothagudem-based SDRF unit and four additional fire department staff members headed out in two boats to carry out the rescue operation.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who enquired about the incident, asked the District Collector to make all efforts to rescue the SDRF personnel. He directed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to monitor the situation, an official release said.
Telangana Minister for Revenue Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said in a post on X that rescue teams identified the possible location of the missing SDRF personnel and that they would be rescued safely. Khammam District Collector Divakara T S and other officials rushed to the spot and deployed teams to rescue the personnel.
Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said NDRF personnel have been deployed and are currently carrying out rescue operations on a war footing. “Deeply concerned over SDRF personnel going missing during an operation to rescue fishermen stranded in floodwaters at Bethupalli Lake in Sathupalli, Khammam district, Telangana,” Kumar said on X.