All 11 people missing in Telangana tank rescue successfully completed
The rescued group included 10 members of the State Disaster Response Force and the fire services department after their boats capsized.
All 11 people who went missing after their boats capsized in the Bethupalli tank in Khammam district on Wednesday night were rescued by Thursday morning, according to the Hindustan Times. The missing group included 10 members of the Telangana State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the fire services department, along with a local resident.
The incident occurred at the Bethupalli tank in Sathupalli mandal after boats carrying the rescue team capsized due to strong currents in the overflowing water. Khammam district fire officer Ajay Kumar said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and fire services department conducted a joint rescue operation throughout the night.
Kumar stated that one person was rescued at 2.15 am, followed by four others at approximately 3 am. After locating three more personnel, the operation was temporarily suspended before resuming at 5 am, with the remaining stranded persons rescued in the following two hours.
The emergency began on Wednesday afternoon when five fishermen became stranded in the tank after a sudden rise in water levels. While the NDRF rescued the five fishermen at approximately 11.20 pm, a subsequent attempt by 10 personnel and a local resident to assist resulted in the boat capsizing.
District collector T S Divakar monitored the operations until around 3 am, and the rescued personnel were moved to the Sathupalli hospital for medical attention. State ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao also enquired about the progress of the rescue efforts via telephone.