SDRF, fire personnel go missing after rescue boats capsize in Khammam tank

Ten SDRF and fire services personnel reportedly went missing after two rescue boats capsized during an operation at Bethupalli tank in Sathupalli, Khammam district, on Wednesday. The rescue team had reached the spot to save fishermen stranded in floodwaters following a sudden rise in the tank's water level due to cyclonic rains.

Khammam: Around 10 members of two SDRF teams, who were on a rescue mission in Bethupalli tank at Sathupalli in Khammam on Wednesday, reportedly went missing in the tank where water was flowing about three feet over the spillway.

According to locals, five fishermen went to set up nets near the tank weir to prevent fish from escaping the reservoir and the water level in the tank increased suddenly following cyclonic rains trapping them in the floodwaters.

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Three fishermen who went to help them were stranded as well. Following this, a team consisting of six members from the Kothagudem SDRF and four additional fire department personnel arrived with two boats to carry out a rescue operation.

They were able to rescue the four fishermen. However, when they proceeded to rescue the remaining fishermen, both boats capsized, leaving 10 personnel missing and three fishermen stranded. It was suspected that the rescue boats might have got caught in the fishnets and capsized.

Another SDRF team from Bhadrachalam arrived at Sathupalli and launched a search and rescue operation for the missing personnel. The District Collector Divakara TS, Sathupalli MLA Dr. Matta Ragamayi and other officials rushed to the spot to monitor the rescue operations, which were being hampered by weather conditions and poor visibility.

Meanwhile, floodwaters from Bethupalli tank flowed downstream into Veshyakanthala tank. This led to the inundation of a nearby double-bedroom housing complex with the floodwaters reaching the first floor. The local authorities intervened and relocated the residents of these housing units to relief centres.