IAF Rescues Five Cattle Grazers from Flooded Sircilla, Telangana

Rapid Summary

• Rescue operations: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters successfully airlifted five stranded cattle grazers from the flooded area along the Manair River in Rajanna Sircilla district, Telangana on Thursday, August 28, 2025. They had been stuck since Wednesday afternoon.
• Challenges: Heavy rain and flooding of the Manair River delayed earlier rescue attempts. Authorities provided food and water to stranded individuals using drones before helicopter operations commenced.
• Additional rescues: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued a villager trapped in a flooded stream at Lingannapeta village shortly after midnight on Wednesday using an inflatable boat.
• heavy rainfall impact: Incessant rains overnight disrupted life across northern Telangana districts, cutting off road access to many villages due to overflowing streams in regions like Nirmal, Adilabad, and Jagtial.
• Godavari River flooding: Rising water levels in the Godavari River at Ramannagudem (Mulugu district) and Bhadrachalam (Bhadradri Kothagudem district) have been exacerbated by upstream dam releases combined with continuous rainfall. Tribal areas particularly affected include Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.
• Official statement: union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar confirmed successful completion of rescue operations involving IAF helicopters. Additional Army resources are expected for further aid.

indian Opinion Analysis

The swift response by both the Indian Air Force and National Disaster Response Force highlights India’s readiness to address natural disasters effectively through inter-agency collaboration. This operation underscores Telangana’s vulnerability to intense monsoon rainfall leading to floods that disrupt infrastructure and endanger lives.

The deployment of drones for delivering food supplies reflects innovative measures taken during emergencies where immediate relief is vital but physical access is constrained. Additionally, rising water levels in major rivers like Godavari spotlight overarching concerns regarding flood management systems amidst relentless monsoons intensified by climate change patterns.

India benefits here from resilient coordination between local authorities and national defense agencies; however,such instances also call attention toward preventive structural solutions-fortifying dams or enhancing early warning systems-that could mitigate risks across flood-prone regions like northern telangana over time.

Read more: The Hindu