HYDRAA workers rescuing workers and engineers who were stranded on a boat in the middle of Mir Alam tank lake on January 26, 2026. Screengrab: Special Arrangement
In a dramatic midnight operation, nine workers and engineers working on the bridge across the Mir Alam tank were rescued by the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) after their boat malfunctioned in the middle of the lake early on Monday (January 26, 2026).
The workers could not restart the engine on Sunday (January 25) evening while trying to return to the shore at the end of the day. As darkness fell, a mechanical failure coupled with a dense carpet of water hyacinth left them immobilised. Stranded in the middle of the lake with frequent sightings of crocodiles in Babanagar and Bahadurpura areas, the panicked workers dialled ‘100’. The group, which included soil-testing experts and labourers, was conducting preliminary work for the bridge project when their boat’s engine failed, according to HYDRAA.
“Hydra SFO Jameel and Team In-charge Swami maintained constant phone contact to prevent panic. Using cell phone signals and flashlights to navigate the thick vegetation that made movement in the water difficult, the DRF team executed the rescue in two trips, safely evacuating all nine individuals,” according to a media release.
The team was conducting surveys for the construction of the ₹319.24 crore bridge connecting Shastripuram to Chintalmet in the southern part of Hyderabad. The bridge, contracted to KNR Constructions, aims to alleviate traffic bottlenecks near the Zoo Park and Aramghar within a span of 24 months.
Published – January 26, 2026 04:34 am IST
