Seven shepherds stranded in floodwaters rescued by Army helicopters in Sircilla

Seven shepherds from Narmala village in Rajanna-Sircilla district were rescued by Army helicopters after being stranded in floodwaters near the Upper Manair project. Officials monitored the operation, while food was supplied via drone until helicopters airlifted them to safety.

Rajanna-Sircilla: Seven shepherds stranded in floodwaters near the Upper Manair project were rescued and shifted to safety in two Army helicopters on Thursday.

Residents of Narmala in Gambhiraopet mandal, the shepherds had taken their cattle for grazing across the Upper Manair reservoir on Wednesday but were trapped after water levels in the Narmala rivulet rose sharply.

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Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha, Superintendent of Police Mahesh B Gite and other officials rushed to the spot and monitored the rescue operation. Food was supplied to the stranded shepherds with the help of a drone until helicopters arrived.

Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested Air Force support for the rescue. Following this, two Army helicopters from Hakimpet were deployed on Thursday morning to shift the shepherds to safety, he said.

Those rescued were identified as Jangam Swamy, Pitla Swamy, Pitla Mahesh, Pitla Narsimhulu, Dyanaboina Swamy, Bise Pradeep and Bise Chaya.