CM Revanth Reddy hails NDRF, SDRF rescue at Bethupalli lake
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy praised NDRF, SDRF, fire services, and the Khammam District Collector after a coordinated rescue safely evacuated fishermen and stranded SDRF personnel from the flooded Bethupalli cheruvu in Sathupalli mandal on 5 November 2026.
Key Takeaways
Bethupalli cheruvu in Sathupalli mandal, Khammam district overflowed due to heavy rains, trapping local fishermen.
SDRF and fire services personnel sent to rescue the fishermen also became stranded in the surge, creating a compound emergency.
NDRF , in coordination with SDRF , fire services, and the district administration , brought all persons safely to shore.
Revanth Reddy publicly commended the courage and dedication of all rescue personnel involved.
The Khammam District Collector was specifically praised for efficient coordination of the relief operations.
The rescue underlines the ongoing monsoon flood vulnerability of Khammam district in eastern Telangana.
When a swollen lake in Khammam district swallowed fishermen and then trapped the very rescuers sent to save them, Telangana's multi-agency response machinery kicked into action — and everyone came back alive. The Chief Minister's Office of Telangana announced on Thursday, 5 November 2026 that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has congratulated the NDRF, SDRF, and fire services personnel who safely evacuated all those stranded in the flood-swollen Bethupalli cheruvu in Sathupalli mandal, Khammam district.
How a rescue became a second emergency at Bethupalli cheruvu
Heavy monsoon rains caused the Bethupalli cheruvu (lake) to overflow dramatically, trapping local fishermen in its surging waters. SDRF and fire services teams moved in to save them — but the rapidly rising water caught those responders as well, turning a rescue operation into a compound emergency requiring a larger intervention.
The NDRF, deployed under the central framework established by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, coordinated with SDRF units, fire department personnel, and the district administration to bring every person — fishermen and responders alike — safely to shore.
CM's praise for the Khammam district collector and rescue teams
CM Revanth Reddy specifically called out the courage, dedication, and coordinated effort displayed by all personnel involved. The Chief Minister's statement noted that the bravery and commitment shown by the rescue teams in protecting lives was 'praiseworthy' (prashamsaneeyam — commendable).
He also singled out the Khammam District Collector (tagged as @Collector_KMM) and officers across departments for conducting the relief operations efficiently. The acknowledgement of a district collector by name signals the administration's intent to credit ground-level coordination publicly.
Khammam's recurring monsoon challenge
Khammam, situated in eastern Telangana, is one of the state's most flood-prone districts during the monsoon season. Its network of tanks and low-lying areas regularly tests the response capacity of both state and central forces. SDRF teams — maintained by the Telangana government for rapid local deployment — frequently work alongside NDRF battalions in these situations, a coordination pattern that this rescue underscored once more.
The successful outcome here — zero casualties despite a double-layered emergency — demonstrates the operational value of that joint framework when it works as intended. For a government navigating a testing monsoon season, it is also a moment worth claiming.
All lives were saved. The lake is receding. The question now is whether this close call accelerates any pre-emptive steps for the rest of Telangana's monsoon calendar.
Point of View
Under-resourced for extreme overflow scenarios, require NDRF reinforcement even in localised emergencies. CM Revanth Reddy's public appreciation — including naming the District Collector — reflects a deliberate political strategy of associating the Congress-led Telangana government with on-the-ground administrative competence. The fact that rescuers themselves were trapped raises a broader question about equipment adequacy for SDRF units facing rapidly evolving floodwater conditions. If the state follows through with post-incident preparedness announcements for Khammam, this rescue could become a reference point for how Telangana reforms its monsoon response protocols.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Bethupalli cheruvu in Khammam?
Heavy monsoon rains caused the Bethupalli cheruvu in Sathupalli mandal, Khammam district to overflow, trapping local fishermen. SDRF and fire services personnel who went to rescue them also became stranded, requiring a larger NDRF-led operation to bring everyone safely to shore.
Who rescued the fishermen and SDRF personnel at Bethupalli lake?
NDRF teams coordinated with SDRF, fire services, and the Khammam district administration to safely evacuate all stranded fishermen and rescue personnel from the flooded Bethupalli cheruvu.
What did CM Revanth Reddy say about the Khammam rescue?
CM A. Revanth Reddy congratulated NDRF, SDRF, fire services, the Khammam District Collector, and all involved officials, calling the courage and dedication of rescue personnel praiseworthy and commending the coordinated effort that saved every life.
What is the NDRF and why was it deployed in Khammam?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a central armed force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, created by the Disaster Management Act 2005, for specialised disaster rescue. It was deployed at Bethupalli cheruvu when the local SDRF teams also became stranded in the floodwaters.
Is Khammam district prone to flooding?
Yes. Khammam, in eastern Telangana, regularly experiences heavy monsoon rainfall that causes its tanks and low-lying areas to overflow, making it one of the state's most flood-vulnerable districts and a frequent site of SDRF and NDRF deployments.
