Humongous record rainfall lashes Telangana, more rains forecasted, civic authorities on full alert

HYDERABAD: Humongous and record rainfall of 616.5mm lashed Chityal of Bhupalapally district in Telangana and at least 50 places in the State received more than 200 mm rainfall affecting normal life and inundating low laying areas.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning another 48 hours of heavy rains in Hyderabad and all over the State, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari alerted all the District Collectors, Police Commissioners, and Superintendents of Police and urged them to be vigilant and to take all preventive measures.

With reports confirming that all streams, tributaries, minor irrigation tanks and rivers have reached full levels, she advised the district authorities to post officers at the causeways, bridges and water bodies to caution people in case of flooding of water.

The Government ordered district officials to evacuate people from submergence areas and provide them shelter and food in case of emergencies. District officials were directed to take up repairs to damaged roads and restrict the movement of people near unprotected waterfalls. The State Government sought the assistance of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and their assistance could be used to provide relief to stranded people.

Meanwhile, water levels in Godavari near the temple town of Bhadrachalam reached 50.2 feet mark with flood inflows reaching danger level of 13 lakh cusecs with heavy rains in the catchment areas and flows from upper riparian States. Heavy rains in Warangal, Bhupalpally and Hanmakonda areas also aggravating the floods.

Due to the heavy flood to Bhadrachalam, the Palvancha-Bhadrachalam road was shut down by the authorities as Nagaram bridge was inundated by the Kinnerasani flowing over the bridge. Commuters planning to travel from Kothagudem to Bhadrachalam and Kothagudem and Khammam were advised not to venture on that route.

Flood warnings issued

With the Godavari River brimming with heavy inflows and the Central Water Commission (CWC), a second warning was issued at Bhadrachalam and the first warning at Dowleswaram in Andhra Pradesh. Irrigation authorities lifted the gates at Dowleswaram and 10.02 lah cusecs of the flood was released to the Bay of Bengal. In all three NDRF and four State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were involved in relief and rescue operations in Andhra Pradesh. The government also set up control rooms to provide important information to citizens.

Stranded tourists rescued

Meanwhile, Mulugu District authorities with the help of rescue teams rescued 80 tourists who were stranded at the Muthyaladhara waterfalls deep in the jungle of Venkatapuram mandal since Wednesday. They were cut off from the mainland due to a surge in water at the falls. Tourism Minister Srinivas Goud informed that around 4 am on Thursday, all the tourists were rescued and sent home.