Nine rescue personnel feared missing as boats capsize in Telangana’s swollen Peddacheruvu

Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have taken up efforts to rescue nine rescue personnel, including five SDRF personnel, who went missing after their two inflatable boats reportedly capsized in the swollen Peddacheruvu in Khammam district, Telangana. Photo credit: Special Arrangement. Around nine personnel belonging to two rescue teams, including five State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, went missing after their two inflatable boats reportedly capsized in the swollen Peddacheruvu in Sathupalli mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) evening.The teams were engaged in an operation to evacuate five fishermen stranded in the floodwaters.According to sources, the incident occurred when the rescue teams, comprising SDRF and Fire Services personnel, ventured into the swollen rivulet to rescue the stranded fishermen. The two boats carrying the personnel reportedly capsized amid strong winds and powerful currents. Khammam Collector Divakara T.S. along with other officials, rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation.Efforts were under way to mobilise NDRF teams and use drones to air-drop life jackets as part of the rescue efforts. The five fishermen trapped in the floodwaters were reportedly safe, sources said. The search and rescue operation continued till reports last came in on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) night.Revenue Minister expresses concern over missing SDRF personnelRevenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, has expressed deep concern over the incident.The Minister stated that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has already reviewed the situation and directed the District Collector to undertake all rescue operations on a warfooting to ensure the safe retrieval of the SDRF personnel involved in the incident.He instructed officials to expedite rescue efforts at the site and ensure the availability of all necessary rescue equipment and boats. The Minister also directed officials of the concerned departments to work in close coordination to trace the missing SDRF personnel.Mr. Reddy said that he has been in constant touch with the District Collector and is continuously monitoring the progress of the rescue operations. He further announced that he would personally visit the incident site on Thursday (November 5, 2026) morning to assess the situation and oversee the rescue efforts. The Minister emphasised that the government’s foremost priority is to ensure the safe rescue of the SDRF personnel and bring them back unharmed.Bandi sends NDRFUnion Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar has stepped in to expedite efforts to trace the SDRF boats that went missing in a water body in Sattupalli Assembly constituency of Khammam district, directing the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel for the rescue operation.The Union Minister reviewed the situation soon after receiving information about the incident and sought details from Khammam District Collector Divakar during a telephone conversation. He enquired about the progress of the ongoing search and rescue operations and instructed officials to intensify efforts to locate the missing SDRF boats.Mr. Sanjay also spoke to senior NDRF officials and urged them to launch immediate operations to trace the boats that were reportedly swept away in the tank. Following his intervention, NDRF teams were mobilised on a war-footing and dispatched to Sattupalli to assist local authorities in the search mission.The NDRF personnel have proceeded to the incident site and are expected to join the ongoing rescue operations aimed at locating the missing boats and ensuring the safety of the SDRF staff involved.Rescue efforts are continuing, with district authorities and disaster response agencies working in coordination to monitor the situation and carry out the search operation. Published - November 04, 2026 10:30 pm IST