Missing SDRF teams, stranded fishermen rescued safely in Khammam’s Sathupalli

All SDRF personnel and eight stranded fishermen were rescued safely after a major operation at Bethupalli Tank in Sathupalli, Khammam district. The rescuers had gone missing after their boats capsized during the mission and were later traced downstream and brought to safety.

Khammam: All the members of two SDRF teams, who went missing in Bethupalli tank, during a mission to rescue fishermen stranded in the tank at Sathupalli in Khammam, were safe and reached shore along with the fishermen.

During the night-long rescue operation the fishermen were traced and rescued in the wee hours of Thursday; the SDRF team members, who took shelter on trees downstream, were spotted based on the location of their communication equipment and promptly rescued by the team.

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The District Collector Divakara TS, Sathupalli MLA Dr. Matta Ragamayi and Kothagudem Superintendent of Police B Rohith Raju monitored the rescue operation that started during late evening hours on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that on Wednesday, five fishermen went to set up nets near the weir in the tank and became stranded when the water level in the tank increased suddenly. Three fishermen who went to help them were also stranded.

Following the incident, eleven SDRF personnel ventured into the tank in two boats to carry out a rescue operation, during which both the boats capsized, due to which the SDRF personnel washed away downstream over the weir.

The officials then dispatched a rescue team from Bhadrachalam to carry out a search and rescue operation for the missing personnel. The rescued SDRF personnel were shifted to the Government Hospital in Sathupalli for treatment and their health condition was said to be stable.