11 rescue personnel missing after boats capsize in Telangana
State Disaster Response Force and Fire Services staff went missing in Khammam district during an operation to save stranded fishermen.
Eleven personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Fire Services Department went missing on Wednesday after two boats capsized in the Bethupalli tank in Telangana's Khammam district. The incident occurred in Sathupalli mandal while the teams were attempting to rescue five fishermen who had become trapped in strong currents in the overflowing water, according to reports from The Times of India and Hindustan Times.
The rescue attempt began when three fire services personnel entered the tank in a boat to assist the fishermen but encountered a technical snag. A larger team, including six SDRF personnel from Kothagudem, four more Fire Services staff, and two local guides, launched a follow-up operation in two boats. While the initial three firefighters were brought back safely, both subsequent boats capsized in the turbulent water, leaving 11 people missing.
Chief minister A Revanth Reddy directed the Khammam district collector to do everything possible to find the missing staff and instructed chief secretary Sanjay Jaju to oversee the situation. Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy stated that rescue teams had identified a possible location for the missing personnel and said he would visit the site on Thursday morning.
Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel from Bhadrachalam had been deployed to assist. Officials are also planning to use drones to drop life jackets to those in the floodwaters. Preliminary information indicates that the five fishermen trapped in the tank are safe.