Fire and SDRF teams rescue over 1,600 people from flood-hit districts

The Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence department carried out large-scale rescue operations across multiple districts, saving 1,646 people stranded due to floods.

In Kamareddy district, the backwaters of the Kalyani Project trapped nine persons travelling in a water tanker and a light motor vehicle at Annasagar village, who were rescued by the SDRF team from Nizamabad. At Gunkul village, five residents stranded in a flooded house were saved by the Banswada Fire Station crew. In GR Colony, where Pedda Cheruvu breached its banks, 250 residents were rescued, along with 300 students from the SC Boys Residential School and 70 residents of Housing Board Colony. Another 55 residents of Sirpur village and six from Chinnamallareddy village were also rescued. Additional operations included saving three poultry workers at Thimmareddy village, six farmers at Ugravai, and two residents stranded in Gandhari town.

The Director General of Fire Services Y. Nagi Reddy visited GR Colony, Housing Board Colony and other areas in Kamareddy. All rescue operations were completed by Thursday noon.

In Medak’s Ramayampet, floodwater entered the SC Women’s Degree College hostel, where 360 students were brought to safety, followed by 84 students from the SC & ST Welfare Hostel and 10 residents of BC Colony. In Haveli Ghanpur, a pregnant woman stranded due to a road breach was rescued and shifted to hospital, while 11 others were brought to safety after being trapped on a flooded bridge.

In Rajanna Siricilla district, one person was rescued at Mallareddypet, while five stranded near Narmala Vagu were airlifted with the help of Army helicopters.

In Nizamabad district, multiple operations were carried out. At Wadi village, 380 people were rescued after Muthaya Cheruvu breached. Eight persons stranded in a car near Indalwai toll plaza, six in an auto at Bheemgal, and 10 residents of Kondur village were also saved. At Kandakurthy, eight people at an ashram were rescued from rising waters of the Manjeera River.

In Adilabad district, a couple stranded across a flooded stream at Yenka village in Utnoor mandal were rescued. In Nirmal district, one person was saved after being stranded across a canal of the Godavari River in Lakshmanchanda mandal.

In Jagtial district, two persons were rescued after a tractor with three men fell into the SRSP canal at Korutla.

The figures are until Thursday (August 28) night 10 p.m., covering the period from Wednesday (August 27).

Rescue teams used ropes, boats, life jackets, buoys and even Army helicopters in some operations. Officials said the coordinated response across districts ensured that all 1,646 persons were brought to safety during the two days of operations.

The fire department said that it had deployed maximum available resources to safeguard lives and property. “Fire personnel worked round the clock, with one major operation continuing until 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday at GR Colony in Kamareddy town, where flooding was extreme. Some vehicles and equipment sustained partial damage during the operations, while life buoys, life jackets and other gear were lost,” said an officer from the fire department. Two firemen with a Light Rescue Vehicle were washed away by floodwaters in Kamareddy town but survived thanks to their training.