Heavy rainfall continued to devastate Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, leading to significant flooding, loss of life, and widespread disruptions. Both states have been battling relentless rains for several days, causing rivers to overflow and submerging large areas, including major cities like Hyderabad and Vijayawada.
Emergency meetings were convened by the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, to evaluate the crisis and coordinate rescue efforts.
The situation in Khammam district is particularly severe, with 110 villages submerged under floodwaters.
Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar reported that 119 people are stranded on hillocks and buildings, awaiting rescue. “Informed Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji about the severe situation in Telangana’s Khammam & that 110 villages in the district have been submerged, 9 people are stranded on Prakash Nagar hillock, 68 people on Azmeera Thanda hillock in Palair constituency, and 42 others are trapped on buildings,” he posted on X.
In response, nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to Telangana to support rescue operations. These teams, coming from Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Assam, have begun their efforts following instructions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to Sanjay Kumar.
Andhra Pradesh has also been heavily impacted by the rainfall. Vijayawada, a major city in the state, has experienced severe flooding, especially in the Rama Krishna Puram area, where homes and vehicles were submerged. The NDRF, along with local police, has been actively engaged in rescue and relief operations, moving affected residents to rehabilitation centers.
Key Points on the Rainfall and Flood Situation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh:
1. The Telangana government has declared a holiday for all primary and secondary schools in Hyderabad on Monday, September 2, as a safety measure for children.
2. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red warnings for parts of Telangana, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in districts like Adilabad and Mahabubnagar over the coming days.
3. Khammam district in Telangana is heavily affected, with 110 villages submerged and over 100 people stranded on hillocks and rooftops awaiting rescue.
4. Floodwaters have damaged railway tracks and caused several houses to collapse in both states. In Mogalrajapuram, Andhra Pradesh, a woman was killed when a rock fell on her house due to the rains.
5. Hyderabad and Vijayawada have both faced severe flooding and waterlogging. Hyderabad experienced widespread waterlogging due to continued overnight rain, while Vijayawada saw significant submersion, particularly in Rama Krishna Puram.
6. In Telangana, a woman died when her car was swept away by floodwaters in Mahabubabad district; her father, who was with her, is still missing.
7. Two family members are feared to have been washed away in Khammam district after their house wall collapsed due to heavy rains. Authorities are searching for the missing individuals.
8. The heavy rainfall has severely affected the railways, leading to the cancellation of 99 trains, partial cancellation of four trains, and diversion of 54 trains.
9. Flooding and damage to railway tracks have stranded five trains in the Kazipet to Vijayawada section, prompting officials to evacuate passengers and provide them with food and necessities.
10. The IMD has predicted continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning for the next five days in isolated areas of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, worsening the already critical situation.
