Nine Rescue Personnel Missing After Boats Capsize in Telangana Rivulet

Around nine rescue personnel, including five from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are feared missing after two inflatable boats capsized in the swollen Peddacheruvu rivulet in Sathupalli mandal of Khammam district, Telangana, on Wednesday evening. The teams, comprising SDRF and Fire Services personnel, were engaged in an operation to evacuate five fishermen who had become stranded in the floodwaters. Sources indicate the incident occurred when the boats capsized amid strong winds and powerful currents, though the five fishermen trapped in the floodwaters were reportedly safe.

Following the incident, Khammam Collector Divakara T.S. promptly arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue operation. Efforts were immediately launched to mobilize National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and plans were made to utilize drones for air-dropping life jackets to aid in the search. The search and rescue operation continued throughout Wednesday night as authorities worked to locate the missing personnel. The gravity of the situation prompted swift responses from state and union government officials, highlighting the urgent nature of the ongoing efforts.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had already reviewed the situation and directed the District Collector to undertake all rescue operations on a "warfooting" to ensure the safe retrieval of the SDRF personnel. Minister Reddy instructed officials to expedite efforts at the site, ensure the availability of all necessary rescue equipment and boats, and foster close coordination among concerned departments to trace the missing personnel. He confirmed continuous contact with the District Collector, monitoring progress, and announced his personal visit to the incident site on Thursday morning to assess and oversee rescue efforts, emphasizing the government's foremost priority is the safe return of the SDRF staff.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar also intervened to expedite the search, directing the deployment of NDRF personnel for the operation. He reviewed the situation upon receiving information and sought details from Khammam District Collector Divakar during a telephone conversation. Union Minister Kumar instructed officials to intensify efforts to locate the missing SDRF boats, which were reportedly swept away, and spoke with senior NDRF officials to urge immediate operations. Following his intervention, NDRF teams were mobilized on a warfooting and dispatched to Sattupalli, proceeding to the incident site to assist local authorities in the search mission. Rescue efforts are continuing with district authorities and disaster response agencies coordinating to monitor the situation and carry out the search.

Editor's note: Thoroughly covers all details from the source report with high fidelity.