A severe disaster unfolded during an emergency response mission in the Khammam district of Telangana, where rescue teams attempting to save five stranded fishermen ended up meeting an accident themselves. Two vessels carrying personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) overturned in the waters of Bethupalli lake in Sathupalli mandal. Following the capsizing incident, 10 constables from the response force have gone missing, triggering an intensive search operation across the water body.
Severe Weather and Rough Waters Lead to Double Capsize
The emergency deployment was initiated after five local fishermen became trapped amid turbulent water conditions within Bethupalli lake. To pull the trapped workers to safety, the SDRF dispatched two specialized boats into the lake. However, sudden fierce wind gusts and heavy underwater currents caused both watercraft to destabilize and flip over. The sudden overturn threw the responders into the surging water, with 10 constables vanishing beneath the surface before they could reach stability or the shoreline.
Deep-Sea Divers Pressed Into Action Amid Tense Scene
The news of the accident brought emergency authorities and senior administration officials rushing to the site to oversee developments. Specialized deep-sea divers along with seasoned search-and-rescue teams were deployed into Bethupalli lake to trace the missing constables. Search operations face significant hurdles owing to turbulent water movement. The unexpected mishap has cast an atmosphere of intense worry and tension across the area as local residents gather along the banks.
Chief Minister Orders Full Mobilization for Missing Responders
Taking immediate notice of the disaster in Khammam, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy issued directives instructing top officials to mobilize every available resource for the ongoing rescue mission. The Chief Minister spoke with the Khammam District Collector, ordering comprehensive measures to bring the missing personnel out of the water safely. Additionally, the state Chief Secretary received instructions to conduct periodic reviews of the ground situation and track operational progress closely.
State Leadership Directs Inter-Agency Coordination
Expressing profound concern over the disappearance of the rescue boats in his Sathupalli constituency, Minister for Revenue, Housing, and Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed that the situation remains under constant review. He noted that the Chief Minister had thoroughly evaluated the crisis and mandated the District Collector to carry out operations on a war footing, providing top-tier safety equipment and additional water vessels to the accident site.
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy stated that field departments have been instructed to operate in tight coordination to trace the 10 missing personnel without delay. The minister shared that he is maintaining frequent communication with the District Collector to follow the rescue timeline and announced plans to visit the site in person the following morning to inspect ground conditions firsthand. He reiterated that the administration holds the safe retrieval of the missing personnel as its utmost priority.
