Lagatar24 Desk
Hyderabad: Incessant heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, causing severe flooding, landslides, and significant disruption to daily life. As the coastal states continue to feel the impact of a depression in the Bay of Bengal, authorities remain on high alert with more rainfall expected in the coming days.
Andhra Pradesh:
In Andhra Pradesh, relentless rains have led to flooding and landslides, resulting in the tragic loss of at least eight lives. Several residents from low-lying areas have been evacuated to safer locations, while around 80 individuals have been rescued by the combined efforts of the national and state disaster relief forces, along with the local police.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been closely monitoring the situation, having canceled all his scheduled programs on Saturday due to the adverse weather. He has instructed officials to immediately allocate ₹3 crore to each district to facilitate relief measures.
Among the victims, five people lost their lives in landslides in Mogalrajapuram, Vijayawada, where large boulders, dislodged by the heavy rain, crushed two houses. In another tragic incident in Guntur district, a teacher and two students were swept away and killed as their car attempted to cross an overflowing stream.
The most severely affected areas include Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Gudivada, Kaikaluru, Narasapuram, Amaravati, Mangalagiri, Nandigama, and Bhimavaram, among others.
Train Services Disrupted:
The severe weather has also led to the disruption of train services on the Vijayawada-Warangal route. Flooded tracks near Vijayawada and Tandalapusalapalli near Mahabubabad railway station have brought train movements to a halt, while rainwater submerging tracks near Kesamudram has caused further delays.
In addition to the railway disruptions, many roads have been inundated, and waterlogging has become widespread, further crippling normal life. The flooding has also caused significant property damage across the state.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued a warning that rivers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are likely to rise further over the next two days, exacerbating the flood situation.
To streamline rescue efforts, the Andhra Pradesh government has set up a state-level control room, coordinating with disaster management agencies and the health department. Residents in need of emergency medical services have been advised to contact the control room at +919032384168.
Telangana on High Alert:
In neighboring Telangana, heavy rains have continued to cause widespread disruption, with low-lying areas being submerged and transportation severely affected. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has instructed all government departments to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent any mishaps.
The government has also directed the immediate relocation of people from flood-prone areas to relief camps. Control rooms have been established in every district collector’s office, as well as in Hyderabad, to manage the situation effectively.
The state Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of preparing an advance evacuation plan and setting up relief camps for those affected by the floods. Districts such as Mahabubabad, Narayanpet, and Khammam have been among the hardest hit by the ongoing downpour.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to very heavy rains are expected to continue in isolated areas, including Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Jagital, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal, and others on Sunday.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been stationed in Hyderabad and Vijayawada to assist with rescue and relief operations as the states brace for more rain.
