– Advertisement –
Hyderabad, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
All 11 personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Services who went missing after two rescue boats overturned in a flooded lake in Telangana's Khammam district have been safely rescued, officials said on Thursday.
Five personnel were brought to safety late Wednesday night, while the remaining six were rescued and taken ashore early Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at Bethupalli tank in Sattupalli mandal, where SDRF personnel were attempting to rescue 10 fishermen stranded in the overflowing water body following heavy rainfall.
According to one of the rescued personnel, the two boats overturned after colliding. The strong water current swept the personnel nearly half a kilometer away, but they managed to hold on to trees until rescue teams reached them.
The stranded fishermen and the missing personnel were subsequently rescued.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed that all the missing personnel had been brought to safety. He praised the rescue teams, government officials and local representatives for coordinating round-the-clock operations to save the fishermen and emergency responders.
The minister rushed to Khammam after receiving information about the incident and monitored the rescue operation from Narayanpur in Kalluru division. He also informed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
On the Chief Minister's instructions, the District Collector, Superintendent of Police and Khammam Police Commissioner coordinated the operation, with Revenue and Police personnel also assisting.
The incident occurred as heavy rain and gusty winds battered the undivided Khammam district under the impact of Cyclone Murasu, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday.
Flooding disrupted road connectivity in several areas and inundated low-lying regions. Preliminary estimates indicated damage to paddy, cotton, maize and chilli crops across around 15,000 acres.