An emergency rescue operation turned into a crisis on Wednesday evening when two boats capsized in the swollen Bethupalli irrigation tank in Telangana’s Khammam district, leaving 11 personnel missing.
Early reports suggested approximately 10 personnel were feared missing, while later accounts indicated the total number of missing rescuers is 11. These individuals include members of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Fire Services Department, and local guides. Despite the tragedy affecting the rescue teams, officials have confirmed that the five fishermen who were originally being rescued are safe.
The sequence of events at Bethupalli tank
The crisis began when five fishermen entered the reservoir to secure their nets and prevent their catch from being swept away by the currents. However, the water levels rose quickly, leaving them stranded. A three-member Fire Services unit was initially deployed to reach them, but their boat suffered a technical failure, leaving the rescuers themselves stranded in the water.
#Telangana #Khammam: 11 #SDRF & #FireSafety personnel (6 SRF, 4 fire staff & 2 boat guides) missing after two rescue boats capsized in #BethupalliLake, Sathupalli, while trying to save 5 fishermen stranded by heavy rains.#NDRF teams from Bhadrachalam deployed; boats & drones in… pic.twitter.com/qaYDIg0Nfo
A larger, secondary rescue contingent was then mobilized to save both the fishermen and the initial firefighting team. This group consisted of six SDRF personnel from Kothagudem, four additional Fire Services members, and two local guides. While this second team successfully retrieved the three firefighters from the first boat, disaster struck during their attempt to reach the fishermen. Both rescue boats were overturned by powerful currents, sweeping all 11 members into the turbulent waters.
Search operations intensify amid heavy rainfall
Emergency response teams are currently working to locate the missing personnel under difficult conditions. Khammam district collector Divakar T S has been stationed at the site to coordinate the ongoing search. To bolster the effort, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Bhadrachalam have been requisitioned to assist the local authorities.
The search strategy has expanded to include modern technology to combat the dangerous environment. Officials are making arrangements to utilize drones to drop life jackets to anyone else caught in the floodwaters, as reported. The search is being conducted on a “war footing,” according to a statement from Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who noted that he is in constant coordination with senior NDRF officials.
The scale of the mobilization involves several layers of government oversight:
A rescue mission turned perilous on Wednesday in Khammam district when two boats carrying 11 rescue personnel—including State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, Fire Services officers, and local guides—capsized in the raging waters of the overflowing Bethupalli irrigation…
- State Level: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed the District Collector to make every possible effort for the safe recovery of the personnel and has instructed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to monitor the situation continuously.
- Revenue Department: Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has been reviewing the availability of rescue equipment and is expected to visit the site to oversee the operation personally. He announced that he would visit the site on Thursday morning to assess the situation and oversee the operation. In a post on X, he noted that rescue teams had identified the possible location of the missing SDRF personnel and stated they would be rescued safely.
- Local Administration: Sathupalli MLA Matta Ragamayi is also on-site assisting with the coordination of emergency services.
Flooding transforms irrigation tanks into high-velocity environments
This incident highlights the extreme volatility of irrigation tanks and reservoirs during cyclone‑induced flooding. When heavy rainfall hits, these bodies of water transform from controlled resources into high‑velocity environments that can overwhelm even professional rescue equipment. The technical failure of the first boat shows how unpredictable these conditions are, where a single engine snag can escalate a routine rescue into a multi-agency emergency.
The demographic bearing the brunt of this tragedy is the frontline emergency workforce. These SDRF and Fire Services personnel operate in high‑risk zones where the margin for error is nearly zero. The loss of 11 trained responders in a single event represents a significant blow to the regional disaster management capacity, particularly as the region continues to face the weather impacts of cyclone Murasu.
IMD Hyderabad has forecasted very heavy rain and issued an alert. Regarding the ongoing efforts, Bandi Sanjay Kumar stated on X: We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant coordination with the authorities to ensure the safe return of everyone involved.
