Nine Dead in Telangana – Widespread Flooding – Heavy Rains Devastate Telangana

Hyderabad: At least nine people have died in Telangana due to heavy rains over the past two days, leading to widespread destruction and flooding across the state. The death toll may increase as some people remain missing after being washed away in various districts. The India Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rains on Monday, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for all educational institutions in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts. District Collectors in other affected areas have been given the discretion to declare holidays based on local conditions.

Key Points of the Crisis

Death Toll and Missing Persons:

At least nine people have died due to the floods caused by heavy rains in Telangana. This number may increase as some individuals remain missing after being washed away in different districts.
A young scientist, Nunavath Ashwini, and her father were washed away in their car while en route to Hyderabad airport. Efforts to locate her father, Nunavath Motilal, are still ongoing.
In Khammam-Kothagudem districts, nine people trapped on Munneru bridge at Prakash Nagar are yet to be rescued. Five others who went to see the Akeru stream were washed away and are still missing.
In Kusumanchi mandal’s Nayakangudem, a house wall collapsed, and three individuals were swept away. A youth named Sharif was rescued, but his parents remain missing.

Rescue Operations and Challenges:

Rescue operations are underway across various districts. In Mahabubabad, 40 passengers stranded on a TSRTC bus between two flooded causeways were rescued.
In Nalgonda district, 30 passengers were saved from a bus caught in the waters of the Paleru stream.
Strong winds uprooted trees, and roads were washed away, complicating rescue efforts. Rail traffic has been severely affected, with sections of tracks washed away at Tallapusapalli railway station in Kesamudram and near Initikanne.

Impact on Infrastructure and Connectivity:

National Highway No. 65, which connects Hyderabad and Vijayawada, was severely affected, disrupting connectivity and stranding hundreds of vehicles.
The Srisailam road was closed at the Mannanur checkpost following a landslide caused by continuous rains, resulting in a severe traffic jam.
Several areas experienced damage to infrastructure, including a breach in the NSP left canal at Ramachandrapuram in Nadigudem mandal of Suryapet district, leading to extensive flooding of paddy fields.

Government Response and Alerts:

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has placed the entire state machinery on high alert and directed round-the-clock monitoring by key officials.
A control room was established at the State Secretariat to assist flood-affected residents. Citizens can contact the control room via the number 040-23454088 for assistance.
The India Meteorological Department predicts further heavy rains, prompting the government to declare holidays for educational institutions in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts. Other districts have been given the discretion to declare holidays based on local conditions.
The government has prepared the Armed Forces for helicopter rescue operations; however, bad weather conditions have delayed deployment.

Flood Management and Precautionary Measures:

Authorities are scaling up discharge from key projects in the Krishna and Godavari basins to manage the increasing flood flow.
All relevant departments, including Municipal, Electricity, Panchayat Raj, and Irrigation, have been instructed to stay on high alert for the next 24 hours and take immediate action to restore essential services.

Conclusion : Telangana is currently facing a significant crisis due to heavy rains, leading to floods, infrastructural damage, and loss of life. The state government has initiated comprehensive rescue and relief operations, but the situation remains critical, with continued rainfall predicted.