All 11 missing SDRF personnel rescued after boats capsize in Telangana
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Hyderabad: All 11 personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Services who went missing after two rescue boats capsized in a lake in Telangana's Khammam district have been rescued, officials said on Thursday.
Five personnel were brought to safety late Wednesday night, while the remaining six were rescued early Thursday morning.
The incident took place at Bethupalli tank in Sattupalli mandal when rescue teams were attempting to save 10 fishermen stranded in the overflowing waterbody following heavy rainfall.
According to one of the rescued personnel, the boats overturned after colliding, throwing those aboard into the water. The strong current swept them nearly half a kilometre away, but they managed to hold on to trees until help arrived.
The stranded fishermen and rescue personnel were subsequently brought to safety.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed the rescue and praised the teams, officials and local representatives for coordinating the round-the-clock operation. He reached Khammam late Wednesday night and monitored the situation from Narayanpur in Kalluru division. He also informed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who directed senior district officials to coordinate the operation.
Meanwhile, heavy rain and strong winds triggered by Cyclone Murasu, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday, disrupted normal life across the undivided Khammam district. Preliminary estimates indicate damage to paddy, cotton, maize and chilli crops across 15,000 acres, while several areas were cut off due to flooding.
With IANS inputs