The status of personnel involved in a rescue operation at Betupalli tank in Telangana’s Khammam district remains unclear after a report attributed to district Collector Divakar T.S. gave conflicting details about 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire personnel who went missing after two rescue boats capsized.
The report said the Collector stated on Thursday that all 10 personnel were safe. It also said eight personnel had been rescued in the early hours, the locations of two others had been traced and a search was continuing for one more missing person. The conflicting account means the final number of personnel accounted for could not be independently established from the supplied material.
The incident occurred at the overflowing Betupalli tank in Sathupally mandal after five fishermen entered the water to install fishing nets and became trapped in floodwaters following heavy rain. Three fire personnel initially travelled in a boat to rescue the fishermen but were themselves caught in strong currents, according to the report.
A larger response was then mounted by six SDRF personnel from Kothagudem and four additional fire personnel, who travelled in two boats to assist their colleagues and the stranded fishermen. The three fire personnel who were initially trapped were brought back safely, the report said.
The two subsequent rescue boats capsized while personnel were attempting to reach the fishermen. The incident left the 10 rescue personnel unaccounted for at that stage and prompted a search operation at the tank. The supplied report does not establish whether all five fishermen were rescued, nor does it provide a final official casualty or recovery statement.
The episode highlights the operational risks faced by emergency responders during flood rescues in overflowing reservoirs and tanks, where strong currents and rapidly changing water levels can endanger both civilians and trained personnel. It also underscores the importance of a clear, consolidated status update during active rescue operations, particularly when multiple teams are involved.
The district administration’s reported response was that there was no need to panic and that the government was taking necessary measures to rescue everyone. However, the final status of the personnel and the fishermen requires confirmation from the Khammam district administration or the relevant disaster-response authorities. The next confirmed update would need to clarify how many personnel have been rescued, whether anyone remains missing and the outcome of the search at Betupalli tank.
