Khammam: Floodwaters swept away 11 SDRF personnel at Betupalli Cheruvu Alugu in Sattupalli mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday. They had just rescued five fishermen trapped in the flood. Cyclone Murasu has battered the joint Khammam district.
The fishermen had gone to Betupalli Cheruvu Alugu on Wednesday morning to tie nets for fishing. Heavy floodwater in the pond trapped five of them. Locals alerted the authorities, and SDRF personnel from the 6th Battalion in Chatakonda, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, launched a rescue operation in two lifeboats. Five personnel rode in one boat and six in the other.
The personnel rescued all five fishermen and brought them to the shore. As the boats neared the shore, they lost control and capsized in the flood current. The floodwaters then carried the SDRF personnel towards Tamilleru Vagu.
Search operations are under way in the areas around Tamilleru Vagu. Khammam Collector Diwakar, Additional Collector Srinivasa Reddy and RDO Ajay Kumar are coordinating the effort. Officials say the personnel are safe because they have life jackets.
Continuous heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday has paralysed normal life in Khammam and Bhadradri districts. Ashwaraopet mandal recorded 28 cm of rainfall, and traffic on the Ashwaraopet-Ootlapalli route came to a standstill. The ring bund (Ringubanda) of the Peddavagu project broke again after fresh rains.
Donthikunta lake filled completely. When the lake’s dam breached and the flood flowed downstream, it submerged all the ayacut crops. SDRF officials also rescued a woman farmer who was trapped in the flood.
Subbarao from Dwarakathirumala in Andhra Pradesh tried to cross the flood on his bike and was washed away. Police rescued him. Veeraprolu Nagamani from Dhammapada in Dhammapada mandal was working in her field when the Mallepulavagu suddenly overflowed. The flood trapped her, so she climbed a nearby tree and informed villagers by phone. An SDRF team then rescued her.
Red alert issued for Bhadradri Kothagudem district
Cyclone Murasu crossed the coast, and incessant torrential rain continues to lash Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts. The Hyderabad Meteorological Department said the cyclone’s effect will continue until the 7th. It added that light to moderate rain will lash the state till Saturday.
Officials said a red alert is in force for Bhadradri Kothagudem district and an orange alert for Khammam district. A yellow alert covers Mulugu and Mahabubabad districts. Both Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam recorded record rainfall in the last 24 hours. The highest, 23.50 cm, fell at Mulkalapalem in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
The sky will stay cloudy for the next 24 hours, and some parts of Hyderabad may see showers.