Telangana under siege: 11 districts hit by catastrophic flooding and red alert issued

Heavy rains, driven by a depression in the Bay of Bengal and ongoing monsoon conditions, have led to severe flooding across Telangana, prompting the Meteorological Department to issue a red alert for 11 districts. The relentless downpour began on Saturday night and has significantly disrupted normal life, causing widespread inundation and affecting road and rail transport.

Inundation and Disruptions Across Telangana

Since Saturday night, heavy rains have battered Hyderabad and neighboring districts, inundating low-lying areas and paralyzing essential services. Residential colonies in the state capital, along with other impacted areas, are grappling with severe flooding. Overflowing lakes, tanks, and streams have cut off several villages, particularly in Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts.

In Warangal district, a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation bus was stranded in floodwaters at Topanapalli, with passengers forced to spend the night onboard as the surrounding roads were submerged. Similarly, train services in Mahabubabad district faced significant disruptions due to damaged railway tracks, leading to several cancellations and diversions.

Emergency Measures and Casualties

In response to the emergency, the Telangana State Government has established a special control room at the State Secretariat to monitor the situation, with the Disaster Management Department providing support through the contact number 040-23454088.

The flooding has resulted in tragic incidents, including the washing away of two cars and an autorickshaw in Kodad town, Suryapet district. The body of one individual was recovered from a car, while the fate of others remains unknown. Additionally, vehicular traffic on the Khammam-Suryapet highway has been halted due to submersion.

Rising Water Levels and Record Rainfall

Water levels in the Godavari River at Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, are rising, reaching 27 feet as of Sunday morning. The Telangana Development Planning Society reported significant rainfall totals, with Huzurnagar in Suryapet district recording 299.8 mm, Inugurthy in Mahabubabad district 298 mm, and Chilkur in Suryapet district 297.8 mm. Other areas in Mahabubabad, Khammam, and Suryapet districts received between 277 and 296 mm of rain.

Red Alert and Forecast

The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the following districts due to expected extremely heavy rainfall: Adilabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Mahbubabad, Jangaon, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal. Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecasted for 11 other districts in the coming 24 hours.