Hyderabad: Hydraa saves nine stranded workers from Mir Alam tank

HYDRAA’s Disaster Response Force rescued nine workers and engineers stranded in the Mir Alam Tank after their boat’s engine failed late on Sunday night. The rescue was carried out amid darkness and dense water hyacinths, officials said.

Hyderabad: The DRF team of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (Hydraa) rescued nine people trapped in the Mir Alam Tank on Sunday at midnight and brought them safely to the shore near the Zoo Park.

Hydraa commissioner A V Ranganath said in an official statement on Monday that the rescued people were workers and engineers involved in conventional bridge work at the Mir Alam Tank. He said they went by boat on Sunday morning to conduct a soil test for a proposed bridge to be constructed over the tank, but when they attempted to return after dark, the boat’s engine failed.

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Ranganath said they contacted a mechanic team to rescue them through the boat, but their efforts failed due to dense water hyacinths in the tank. With concerns about crocodiles in the tank and no way to reach the shore, the group panicked and called Dial 100 for help. He said the call was transferred to the Hydraa DRF control room.

After receiving the call, the Hydraa DRF team spoke to those stranded in the middle of the Mir Alam Tank. Ranganath said rescue operations were complicated by darkness and thick water hyacinths and finally, DRF teams reached the location with difficulty. He said four people were brought to shore in the first trip and the remaining five were rescued in a second trip.