Rescuer survives night clinging to tree after boats capsize in Telangana lake

Ten rescue personnel were swept away and two boats capsized in Bethupalli Peddacheruvu in Khammam on Wednesday evening. The team entered the lake around 7 p.m. on November 4, 2026, to save six fishermen stranded in the water. Strong currents and a sudden rise in water levels caused the accident. SDRF personnel B. Naresh and two others jumped into the water just before the boats flipped. They managed to climb a tree and spent the entire night surrounded by floodwaters. Another SDRF crew member was swept nearly half a kilometer away before grabbing a tree branch. Wearing life jackets helped the workers stay afloat until morning. An NDRF team rescued Mr. Naresh and the others early on Thursday. All missing rescue personnel and the nine stranded fishermen were eventually brought to safety after a search operation lasting over 12 hours. Mr. Naresh later described his survival as a rebirth while reuniting with his family. Officials believe a breach in a minor irrigation tank upstream caused the sudden surge in water levels following heavy rain from Cyclone Murasu. Khammam Collector Divakara T.S. supervised the rescue operation. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy visited the site on Thursday morning and praised the teams for their hard work.

Context

Disaster response teams often face extreme risks during flood rescue operations when weather conditions change quickly. Sudden water surges from upstream breaches can turn routine rescue missions into life-threatening emergencies for the responders themselves. Coordinated efforts between multiple agencies like the NDRF, SDRF, and local police are critical for saving lives in such situations.