Telangana rains: Red alert for Hyderabad, schools, colleges shut

Telangana rains: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red, orange, and yellow alerts for all districts of Telangana on Sunday, September 1.

As moderate to heavy rains hit various parts of Telangana, flooding low-lying areas and disrupting road connections between villages, the state government has directed district collectors to implement measures to prevent loss of life and property.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red, orange and yellow alerts for all districts of Telangana on Sunday, September 1.

Chief secretary Santhi Kumari has directed district collectors to enforce safety measures in response to the meteorological department’s forecast of heavy rains across the state over the next two days.

Streams have swelled in Mahabubabad, Narayanpet, Khammam and other districts following the heavy rains.

Here’s how the rains have crippled normal life in the state:

1. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Red, Orange, and Yellow alerts for all districts of Telangana on Sunday, September 1.
2. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are currently stationed in Hyderabad and Vijayawada and can be deployed if an emergency arises.
3. The state government has instructed that control rooms be established in every district collector’s office, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and the state secretariat.
4. District administrations have been directed that an officer should be specially appointed to supervise the overflowing streams.
5. In light of the heavy rain forecast and the red alert issued for Hyderabad district, all primary and secondary schools will be closed on September 2.
6. The state government has advised taking measures to prevent tank contamination and to ensure chlorination to avoid the spread of diseases.
7. Hyderabad’s weather forecast for the next 48 hours includes moderate to heavy rain or thunderstorms, with surface winds expected to reach 30-40 km/h.
8. Authorities have advised parents and guardians to pay attention to weather warnings and ensure their children’s safety during this period.
9. The state has developed a proactive plan to evacuate people from flood-affected areas and establish relief camps.
10. The state has issued a high alert to irrigation department officials, advising them to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions without leaving their headquarters.

    Jr NTR has pledged a donation of ₹50 lakh to both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following the devastating floods
    Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A. Revanth Reddy have urged the Centre to declare the torrential rains in their states as a natural calamity, following reports from news agency ANI that over 30 people have died so far.

    The intense downpour has resulted in the deaths of 17 people in Andhra Pradesh and 16 in Telangana. The heavy rains have also caused significant damage to road links between the two states.

    In an official press release, Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy also noted that the financial losses due to the flooding are estimated to be around ₹5,000 crore, according to preliminary assessments.
    Meanwhile, Jr NTR announced on Tuesday a donation of ₹50 lakh to the CM Relief Funds of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sharing the news on social media platform X, he wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the recent floods in the two Telugu states. I pray that the Telugu people recover from this calamity soon.”

    He added, “As a contribution from my side, I am donating ₹50 lakh each to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to support the efforts of the governments in providing relief from the flood disaster.”

    

    The IMD had warned that a depression over the Vidarbha region was responsible for the intense rainfall in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which also presented a risk of flash floods. The weather department has predicted that the rain will ease today, becoming more moderate in both states.

    In Andhra Pradesh, the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada has witnessed its highest floodwater level, recording a discharge of 11.43 lakh cusecs, just below its maximum capacity of 11.9 lakh cusecs. The surrounding areas have been submerged in floodwater.

    In Telangana, the rising water levels of the Munneru river have caused severe flooding in the Khammam district. District Collector Muzammil Khan described the situation as “unprecedented,” stating, “We are experiencing severe floods in our district, unlike anything in the past 30 years, due to the 200mm rains.”

    A total of 110 relief camps have been organized in Telangana, where more than 4,000 people have been safely relocated. Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, CM Chandrababu Naidu stated that 32 senior IAS officers and 179 officials have been assigned to oversee relief operations in the flood-affected areas. However, the state is still struggling to provide food to people stranded in certain regions.

    Both states have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assist in the relief operations.