11 Telangana SDRF personnel rescued after boats capsize in Khammam lake
Synopsis
Two SDRF rescue boats collided and capsized in a flooded Telangana lake while saving trapped fishermen, sending 11 personnel into fast-moving floodwaters. A night-long rescue operation — triggered by Cyclone 'Murasu' — brought every missing person to safety, but the episode exposed the acute risks faced by disaster responders in extreme weather.
Key Takeaways
11 SDRF and Fire Services personnel went missing after two rescue boats collided and capsized in the Bethupalli tank , Sattupalli mandal , Khammam district, Telangana.
Five personnel were rescued late Wednesday night ; the remaining six were brought to safety in the early hours of Thursday, 5 November .
The personnel had been swept approximately half a kilometre downstream but survived by holding onto trees.
10 fishermen originally trapped in the overflowing lake were also rescued.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed all rescues and personally monitored operations from Narayanpur; Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed district-level coordination.
Cyclone 'Murasu' , which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday, triggered the floods; preliminary estimates put crop damage at over 15,000 acres of paddy, cotton, maize, and chilli.
Eleven personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Services, who went missing after two rescue boats overturned in a lake in Telangana's Khammam district, were safely brought to shore on Thursday, 5 November 2026, officials confirmed. The rescue operation unfolded through the night and into the early hours of Thursday, with all missing personnel accounted for.
How the Incident Unfolded
The crisis began at the Bethupalli tank in Sattupalli mandal of Khammam district, where SDRF teams had deployed two boats to rescue 10 fishermen trapped in the overflowing lake amid heavy rain. The two boats collided mid-operation and capsized, sending the personnel into the swift-moving floodwaters.
One of the rescued SDRF personnel recounted that the collision caused both boats to overturn, and all those aboard were swept nearly half a kilometre downstream by the powerful current. Fortunately, the personnel managed to grip onto trees along the bank, preventing further displacement until rescue teams could reach them.
Rescue Operation Through the Night
Five of the missing personnel were pulled to safety late Wednesday night, while the remaining six were brought ashore in the early hours of Thursday morning. Teams from SDRF, Revenue, and Police departments worked in coordination throughout the night. The trapped fishermen were also successfully rescued.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed the safe rescue of all SDRF personnel. He praised the round-the-clock efforts of the rescue teams, coordinating officials, and local public representatives. After receiving word of the incident late at night, the minister rushed to Khammam district and monitored operations from Narayanpur in the Kalluru division.
CM and District Administration Step In
Minister Reddy informed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy about the situation. On the Chief Minister's directions, the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and Khammam Police Commissioner jointly coordinated the rescue efforts, with personnel from both Revenue and Police departments actively participating.
Cyclone 'Murasu' Triggers Widespread Damage
The incident occurred against the backdrop of severe weather unleashed by Cyclone 'Murasu', which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday. Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds lashed the undivided Khammam district on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas and severing road connectivity to numerous villages.
According to preliminary official estimates, crops across approximately 15,000 acres — including paddy, cotton, maize, and chilli — sustained damage. The full extent of agricultural and infrastructure losses is still being assessed as flood conditions persist in parts of the district.
With the cyclone's impact still being felt across the region, authorities are expected to continue monitoring water levels and deploying relief teams to affected areas in the coming days.
Point of View
But the episode raises a pointed question: were the boats deployed that night fit for high-flow conditions? Two vessels colliding and capsizing simultaneously suggests operational gaps — inadequate equipment, poor visibility protocols, or both — that routine bravery alone cannot fix. As extreme weather events intensify along India's coasts, the capacity and safety standards of state disaster response forces demand scrutiny beyond congratulatory statements. The 15,000-acre crop damage figure, meanwhile, is likely a floor: cyclone-linked agricultural loss assessments in Telangana have historically been revised sharply upward once field surveys are complete.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the SDRF personnel in Khammam, Telangana?
Eleven SDRF and Fire Services personnel went missing after two rescue boats collided and capsized in the flooded Bethupalli tank in Sattupalli mandal, Khammam district, on the night of 4-5 November 2026. All 11 were safely rescued — five late Wednesday night and six in the early hours of Thursday morning.
What caused the boats to capsize in Khammam?
According to one of the rescued SDRF personnel, the two boats collided with each other during the rescue operation, causing both to overturn. The heavy water flow from the overflowing lake then swept the personnel roughly half a kilometre downstream.
Were the fishermen also rescued?
Yes. The 10 fishermen originally trapped in the Bethupalli tank — the reason SDRF teams were deployed — were also successfully rescued as part of the overnight operation.
Which cyclone caused the flooding in Khammam?
Cyclone 'Murasu' crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday and triggered heavy rains with gusty winds across the undivided Khammam district on Wednesday, causing the lake to overflow and severing road connectivity to multiple areas.
How much crop damage occurred due to Cyclone 'Murasu' in Khammam?
Preliminary official estimates indicate that paddy, cotton, maize, and chilli crops over approximately 15,000 acres were damaged. The final assessment is expected to rise as flood conditions ease and field surveys are conducted.
