9 Trapped after fire at Telangana power station, rescue operation underway

Rescue efforts are on to rescue nine persons trapped in a fire mishap at left bank of TS Genco’s hydel power station at Srisailam canal in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana.

Reportedly, the incident took place late on Thursday. Initial reports indicate that a short circuit led to the fire and thick smoke engulfing the spot.

Of the 17 persons present at the spot, 8 escaped to safety through a tunnel. Those trapped include six TS Genco employees and three private company employees.

Firefighters were rushed to the spot and trying to rescue the trapped including a deputy engineer and assistant engineers. Officials said thick smoke is hampering rescue operations.

Telangana minister Jagadish Reddy and TS Genco CMD Prabhakar Rao reached the spot and are overseeing rescue efforts.

Reddy said that the mishap occurred in the first unit of the power station and four panels were damaged. He said the rescue personnel were unable to enter the tunnel due to thick smoke.

Rescue personnel are being brought in from the Singareni collieries to support the rescue operations. Power generation operations at the power station have been suspended following the incident.

The Srisailam dam is located across the Krishna River, which serves as the border between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.