Mutyala Dhara rescue: All 80 stranded tourists evacuated safely

Telangana: Police, NDRF, and SDRF rescued 80 tourists who were stuck at Mutyala Dhara waterfalls aka Mutyam Dhara in Mulugu, Telangana on Thursday morning.

The tourists who belong to Khammam, Hanumakonda, Karimnagar, and Warangal districts got stuck on Wednesday night after the flow increased in the stream. About 50 DRF, NDRF, and police personnel were deployed to rescue the tourists.

Located near Veerabadaravaram village of Venkatapuram Mandal, Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Mutyala Dhara is the country's third-highest waterfall.

Flowing from a height of 700 meters, the water is blown by strong winds, especially during this season. With the heavy rains seen in the state, the water flow in the area increased, presenting a breathtaking view. Although the area lacks basic facilities, tourists flock to the place during the season. They have to trek 10 kilometers to reach the waterfall.

SP Mulugu Gaush Alam said at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 80 people went into the forest to see the Mutyala Dhara waterfalls. However, on their way back, they were unable to cross the river due to the sudden rise of the water level.

“As darkness fell, they were trapped in a hopeless situation. The panic-stricken people immediately called 100, and we told them to take precautions and alerted the District Disaster Response Force, NDRF teams, and the local police station CISI who immediately reached the spot. Our teams were in contact with the tourists and suggested they stay away from the waterfalls,” he said.

He said rescue work has been completed and 80 tourists were safely evacuated. “We verified every group and no one is left. One boy got a scorpion bite and he is treated. 90% of them are safe, and only 10% complained of leg pains due to excessive walking. As soon as they were rescued, the tourists were given food," said SP Gaush Alam.

The SP advised visiting the prohibited areas due to heavy rains in the region. No one should come out of the house unless it is an emergency, he said.

Tourism Minister Srinivas Goud appreciated the efforts of the police, NDRF, and SDRF to rescue the tourists. He asked the tourists to avoid visiting waterfalls, especially during heavy rains.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Hyderabad has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in Telangana till Thursday. This weather pattern is due to a well-marked low-pressure area over west central and adjacent northwest Bay of Bengal, situated off the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts. The IMD predicts that this low-pressure area is likely to intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours.