Hyderabad, Aug 28 (IANS) — Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on Thursday rescued eight villagers who had been stranded for more than 26 hours in floodwaters near the Upper Maneru Project in Gambhiraopet mandal of Telangana’s Rajanna Sircilla district.
Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management, confirmed that the men were successfully airlifted after being marooned since Wednesday. He said the state government worked in close coordination with the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Telangana and Andhra Sub Area (TASA), and Air Force Station, Hakimpet, to facilitate the operation.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who had urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to send helicopters, expressed gratitude to both Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their prompt response. He also thanked IAF Commodore V.S. Saini and his team for their swift coordination. Kumar said the two helicopters will remain stationed at Sircilla to assist with ongoing flood relief.
The rescued villagers, who had gone to graze cattle, were provided food supplies via drones before the helicopters could reach them. District Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha and Superintendent of Police Mahesh B. Gite oversaw these efforts.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are also extending support to state agencies in evacuation and relief. In addition, 60 people trapped in various flood-hit areas were saved by rescue teams comprising Revenue, Police, and Disaster Management personnel.
Meanwhile, Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha visited flood-affected areas in Medak district’s Ramayampet, where he met victims, inspected submerged colonies, and directed officials to shift people to safer locations while ensuring supply of essentials such as food, clothing, and bed sheets.
