All 10 Missing SDRF, Fire Personnel Safe in Khammam
Of the 10, eight were rescued in the early hours and the location of two of them was traced. A search is on to trace one more person, who was missing: Official
Hyderabad: The Khammam district Collector Divakar T.S. on Thursday said that the 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire personnel, who went missing in the flood water during a rescue operation, were safe.
Of the 10, eight were rescued in the early hours and the location of two of them was traced. A search is on to trace one more person, who was missing, he said. He said that there was no need to panic as the government was taking necessary measures to rescue everyone.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the Fishermen and 10 SDRF personnel safe from flood danger in Betupalli Cheruvu. Congratulations to the rescue teams that participated in round-the-clock relief operations and saved the lives of the stranded fishermen and SDRF personnel, as well as to the officials who worked in coordination and the local public representatives.
“In the context of another missing personnel also being located, I have instructed the officials to bring him back to safety as quickly as possible,” he said in a post on ‘X’.
Ten personnel went missing after two rescue boats capsized while they were attempting to rescue fishermen stranded in the overflowing Betupalli tank in Sathupally mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday.
The incident occurred when five fishermen ventured into the tank to install fishing nets but got trapped in the floodwaters as the tank was overflowing following heavy rains. Three fire personnel initially set out in a boat to rescue them but were themselves caught in the strong currents.
Subsequently, six SDRF personnel from Kothagudem and four more fire personnel ventured into the tank in two boats to rescue their colleagues and the stranded fishermen. The three fire personnel who were initially trapped were brought back safely. However, while proceeding to rescue the fishermen, both boats capsized, leaving 10 rescue personnel missing.
