# Two SDRF Rescue Boats Capsize in Telangana Lake During Fishermen Rescue Operation, 10 Personnel Missing

> Two relief vessels carrying emergency personnel overturned in strong currents and winds at Bethupalli lake in Khammam. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed emergency efforts.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Telangana · **Published:** 2026-11-05 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/telangana/telangana-ke-khammam-men-rahata-abhiyana-ke-daurana-dubin-do-naven-rajya-apada-mochana-bala-ke-10-karmi-lapata-56786 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Telangana, Khammam, SDRF, Boat Capsize, Revanth Reddy, Bethupalli Lake

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.

## What this means for you
This critical incident highlights the immediate need to review safety gear and emergency response protocols during harsh water conditions.

- **Across India:** Disaster management agencies must re-evaluate emergency response protocols and equipment standards deployed in rough water bodies. It underlines the necessity for rigorous secondary safety tethers for first responders during severe weather.
- **In Telangana:** Local authorities across Khammam and surrounding districts are restricting civilian and fishing access to swelling lakes and reservoirs. Residents are advised to avoid deep water bodies during high-velocity winds and unstable currents to prevent further mishaps.

## Why this happened
The accident occurred when emergency response units deployed onto Bethupalli lake to evacuate stranded fishermen but encountered severe weather conditions.

- **Violent Winds and Heavy Current:** Strong localized wind patterns combined with sudden rough water currents destabilized both rescue vessels. The loss of balance led to their rapid capsizing in deep water.
- **Fishermen Extraction Mission:** The operation was originally launched to evacuate five fishermen who were stranded in the middle of the lake. The high-risk mission encountered worsening environmental factors midway through the rescue.
- **Official Review Underway:** State leadership and local administrative bodies have ordered a comprehensive operational assessment of the incident. High-level monitoring is currently focused on maximizing search capabilities and examining on-site rescue safety.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where did this boat capsize accident occur?
The incident occurred in Bethupalli lake located in the Sathupalli mandal of Khammam district, Telangana.

### 2. How many rescue personnel are currently missing?
Ten constables of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) went missing after two boats overturned.

### 3. Why were the rescue vessels deployed into the lake?
The rescue team entered Bethupalli lake on a mission to extract five stranded local fishermen.

### 4. What caused the two rescue boats to capsize?
Strong surface winds coupled with turbulent water currents caused the boats to lose balance and flip over.

### 5. What measures are being taken to find the missing personnel?
Deep-sea divers and specialized rescue teams have been deployed to conduct exhaustive underwater search operations.

### 6. What instructions were issued by state leadership?
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy directed district authorities to carry out search efforts on a war footing.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._