Hyderabad: In a large-scale Kamareddy flood rescue mission, officials successfully saved four people and 656 sheep trapped on a river islet in Shetloor village of Bichkunda mandal. Sudden inflows from the Koulas Nala project had raised water levels in a Manjeera river tributary, triggering the emergency.
Acting quickly, Kamareddy Collector Ashish Sangwan ordered immediate deployment of rescue teams. The trapped individuals included a farmer from Shetloor, two shepherds from Gundekallur, and one from Bussapur—all stranded along with their livestock.
Multi-agency response spanned eight hours
Firefighters from Madnoor reached the scene first. Soon after, 14 SDRF personnel arrived with two boats. A 24-member SDRF team from the 7th Battalion, led by RSI K. Vinod Kumar, joined them. In addition, four fire officers from Kamareddy and 20 police personnel from Banswada, Bichkunda, and local units supported the effort.
Banswada Sub-Collector Kiranmayi and an 18-member revenue team oversaw the operation. Both Kamareddy Fire Officer S. Sandanna and Nizamabad Fire Officer T. Parameshwar coordinated the mission.
Rescuers initially secured the three shepherds. They then reached and evacuated the farmer, who was stranded on a separate islet. Despite difficult conditions, the teams continued the rescue for over eight hours until all four individuals and 656 sheep were safe.
Officials described it as one of the most extensive SDRF rescue efforts in recent memory. They credited seamless coordination among departments and local villagers for the success.
Local leaders, collector issue public safety warning
Jukkal MLA Tota Lakshmi Kantha Rao, along with other public representatives, joined the field effort and ensured that no lives were lost.
Following the rescue, Collector Ashish Sangwan commended the teams for their rapid and unified response. He urged the public to remain vigilant while heavy rains continue. He warned against fishing in swollen water bodies and advised avoiding low-lying bridges and culverts. Additionally, he asked residents to keep livestock away from dangerous areas and instructed parents to prevent children from playing near water sources.
For any emergency assistance, citizens can call the district’s toll-free number: 08468-220069.
