Telangana DGP C.V. Anand relief as all 11 SDRF, Fire personnel rescued in Khammam
Synopsis
Twelve SDRF and Fire Department rescuers spent a harrowing night clinging to trees in Khammam's floodwaters after their boats capsized during a fishermen rescue. By 6:45 am, all were found safe — a close call that highlights the life-and-death risks faced by Telangana's first responders every monsoon season.
Key Takeaways
11 SDRF and Fire Department personnel were rescued after being trapped overnight in floodwaters in Sathupally, Khammam district on 5 November .
The personnel had capsized while attempting to rescue 5 stranded fishermen in heavy currents.
The last 6 missing personnel were located by 6:45 am , having survived the night clinging to trees downstream.
Overnight operations were supervised by District Collector Diwakar and SP Rohit Raju , with NDRF and SDRF support.
Revenue Minister Pongulti Srinivas Reddy visited Bethupalli tank and Dammapeta mandal to review the broader flood situation and honoured SDRF personnel.
Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand on 5 November expressed relief after all 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Department personnel, who had been trapped overnight in heavy floodwaters in Khammam district, were rescued safely by 6:45 am. The personnel had capsized while attempting to save stranded fishermen in the Sathupally area, triggering a tense overnight search-and-rescue operation.
How the Crisis Unfolded
According to the DGP, the emergency began when 5 fishermen were spotted stranded in powerful currents in Sathupally. A rescue team of 6 SDRF personnel in one boat and 5 Fire Department personnel accompanied by a guide was immediately deployed. The boats capsized under the force of the floodwaters, leaving 12 rescuers unaccounted for through the night — in addition to the fishermen they had set out to save.
Night-Long Operation and the Rescue
Throughout the night, Khammam District Collector Diwakar and Superintendent of Police Rohit Raju supervised the multi-agency operation, coordinating NDRF and SDRF teams for the search. 6 of the 12 missing personnel were located and rescued during the night hours. At first light, the remaining 6 were found by 6:45 am — they had survived the night by clinging to trees downstream. Efforts from Hyderabad included attempts to deploy night-vision drones and a helicopter to aid the search.
'Luckily all of them were wearing life jackets and know how to swim... They had spent the night hanging onto the trees downstream and experienced a lot of anxiety and stress. It was very tense for all of us monitoring from Hyderabad,' DGP C.V. Anand said in a post on X, adding that the SP, Collector and their teams, along with NDRF and SDRF, deserved full credit for the outcome.
Minister Reviews Flood Situation in Khammam
Revenue Minister Pongulti Srinivas Reddy visited Bethupalli tank on Thursday to assess the flood situation. He was accompanied by Sathupalli MLA Dr Matta Ragamayi, Aswaraopeta MLA Jare Adinarayana, and Bhadradri Kothagudem District Collector Ankit. The minister lauded SDRF personnel for their service during the dangerous conditions triggered by heavy rains and flooding.
The Bethupalli tank had overflowed, putting several villages in Dammapeta mandal at risk of flooding. Minister Reddy subsequently inspected breach sites along the Mallepula stream and Musalibandham tank, and honoured SDRF personnel by presenting shawls in recognition of their courage and dedication in saving lives.
What This Reflects
The incident underscores the recurring danger faced by first responders during Telangana's annual flood season, particularly in low-lying districts like Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem. This is not an isolated case — SDRF and Fire Department teams are routinely deployed during monsoon flooding across the state's river belts, often in conditions that put the rescuers themselves at risk. The fact that all personnel survived — largely due to life jackets and swimming ability — has been widely noted as a fortunate outcome given the severity of the currents.
Point of View
Yet the overnight search exposed gaps in real-time tracking and night-time extraction capability — the reliance on night-vision drones and helicopters that had to be 'arranged' mid-crisis points to readiness gaps worth examining. The life-jacket discipline saved lives here; whether that is uniform practice across all deployments is a question the state's disaster management framework should be able to answer. Political acknowledgement from the Revenue Minister is welcome, but institutional preparedness — not just heroism — is what will prevent the next close call from turning fatal.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the SDRF and Fire Department personnel in Khammam?
Eleven SDRF and Fire Department personnel were trapped overnight after their boats capsized in heavy floodwaters in the Sathupally area of Khammam district on 4–5 November. They had deployed to rescue 5 stranded fishermen when the strong currents overturned their boats.
When were all the missing rescue personnel found?
The last 6 of the 12 missing personnel were located by 6:45 am on 5 November, at first light. The first 6 had been rescued during the night; all had survived by clinging to trees downstream.
Who oversaw the overnight rescue operation?
Khammam District Collector Diwakar and Superintendent of Police Rohit Raju supervised the operation through the night, coordinating NDRF and SDRF teams. DGP C.V. Anand monitored the situation from Hyderabad, where efforts were also made to deploy night-vision drones and a helicopter.
What did Revenue Minister Pongulti Srinivas Reddy do in Khammam?
Minister Pongulti Srinivas Reddy visited Bethupalli tank and breach sites in Dammapeta mandal on Thursday to review the flood situation. He honoured SDRF personnel with shawls, praising their courage in conducting relief operations during dangerous flood conditions.
Why were life jackets significant in this rescue?
DGP C.V. Anand specifically noted that all personnel were wearing life jackets and were able to swim, which he credited as the key factor in their survival through the night. The life jackets kept them afloat long enough to reach and hold onto trees until rescuers could reach them at dawn.
