Telangana is facing severe flooding after record rainfall in the last two days, with Kamareddy and Medak districts receiving the heaviest rain in 50 years. The floods have caused widespread disruption, with roads closed, families displaced, and several people stranded in dangerous waters. Amid the chaos, stories of courage, hope, and, sadly, tragedy have emerged, highlighting both the human cost of the disaster and the bravery of first responders.

Brave rescues and miracles amid floodwaters

In the flood-hit Rajanna Sircilla district, Lakshmi’s anguish became a powerful symbol of the human toll. For 30 hours, she waited desperately for her son, Jangam Swamy, trapped in the fast-flowing floodwaters. “I fall at your feet. Please save my son. “It’s been 30 hours,” she pleaded. Attempts to rescue five people stranded at Upper Manair were repeatedly delayed by bad weather.

Lakshmi’s anger grew as she waited. “What use are elections and leaders if they can't come to the rescue of my son? You dare not try to silence me. I want you to try again and save my son,” she cried.

Finally, hope prevailed. In a dramatic operation by an IAF helicopter, Jangam Swamy was rescued. His return was met with tears of relief and joy from his mother and family. Grateful for his life, he thanked his rescuers for “giving him a second life.”

In Medak district, a pregnant woman in labour needed urgent medical help. The rescue teams, hailed as the “Knights in Fluorescent Orange” on social media, safely moved her to a hospital in time. The timely action of the NDRF team gave both mother and baby a chance at a healthy life, underlining the crucial role of these first responders.

In Kamareddy, police performed a daring rescue, braving chest-deep, fast-flowing waters with just a rope. They saved 10 people, including children carried on their shoulders. These efforts earned them the title of “everyone’s heroes” from locals. Similarly, in Nirmal district, an NDRF team used a specialised boat to rescue Shankar Naik, trapped by rising waters. Around 250 families in the area had to be relocated, and the main road connecting Nirmal to Maharashtra remains closed.

Tragedy Amid Rescue Efforts

Not all stories ended happily. Two men, Bestha Sathyam and Yada Goud, went missing while trying to cross the Rajpet bridge in an auto-rickshaw. They were reportedly on their way to a flooded Gurukul school to pick up their children. Former irrigation minister Harish Rao shared the heartbreaking details, saying the men “for at least four hours, were holding on to an electric pole, hoping for a rescue, but no helicopter was sent.”

He criticised the government, stating, “A minister said yesterday the chopper would be used only in the utmost emergency, whereas they use it to go to marriages and political rallies.”

Telangana’s floods over the past 24 hours have shown both the fragility and resilience of life. While despair and loss have marked the disaster, the bravery of rescue teams and the hope of families highlight human courage and endurance in the face of extreme adversity.

You might also be interested in: Police complaint filed against Rahul Gandhi for abusing PM Modi during Bihar Yatra