Heavy rains in Telangana, Andhra continue; 10 more dead.
Officials announced on Monday that 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to assist with flood relief and rescue operations. The deployment comes in response to the ongoing heavy rains that have caused widespread flooding and devastation across the region. These specialized teams are equipped to handle emergency situations, including evacuations, providing medical assistance, and rescuing stranded individuals. The authorities are working tirelessly to mitigate the impact of the floods and ensure the safety of residents in affected areas.
Hyderabad: Torrential rains continued to batter Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day, leading to at least 10 more fatalities, severe flooding, waterlogging in various areas, and major disruptions to road and rail traffic on Sunday. The relentless downpour has caused rivers in both states to swell, prompting thousands of evacuations by national and state disaster response forces.
The heavy rainfall led to the cancellation of 99 trains, with four more partially canceled and 54 others diverted due to waterlogged tracks across the South Central Railway network, according to a South Central Railway (SCR) official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, assuring them of all possible assistance from the central government to manage the ongoing floods and heavy rains. To bolster relief efforts, 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed across the two states. While 12 teams are already on the ground, 14 more are en route, with eight being airlifted from various locations across the country. These teams are equipped with inflatable boats, pole and tree cutters, and essential medical aid tools.
Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy reported that despite several precautionary measures, nine people lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents across the state. In the districts of Mahabubabad and Khammam, three individuals are feared to have been washed away.
In Hyderabad, heavy rains persisted overnight, leading to widespread waterlogging in many parts of the city. Given the forecast for continued heavy rainfall in the Hyderabad district, officials declared a holiday for all schools on September 2. District Collectors have been instructed to declare holidays for educational institutions based on local conditions.
In Khammam district, residents of a locality found themselves stranded on rooftops as large areas remained submerged. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas across Telangana, including Adilabad, Nizamabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy.
Kurmanath alerted residents of low-lying areas about the potential for flooding, with a first-level warning issued at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada as the Krishna River swells due to heavy inflows. Andhra Pradesh has reported nine rain-related deaths and one missing person since Saturday, adding to the eight deaths reported earlier.
Vijayawada district is among the worst affected, with the Budameru rivulet overflowing and flooding multiple localities, including Ajit Singh Nagar, Swathi Theatre area, Police Nagar area, and parts of west and central constituencies. Houses and vehicles in these areas were submerged, forcing residents to wade through chest-deep water. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that Vijayawada and Guntur cities were completely marooned, with key highways inundated.
Naidu also reported that 17,000 rain-affected people had been evacuated to 107 relief camps, and over 1.1 lakh hectares of agricultural land and 7,360 hectares of horticultural fields were damaged. Efforts are underway to manage the situation, including reinforcing areas downstream of Prakasam Barrage.
Meanwhile, in Telangana, a portion of the railway track near Kesamudram in Mahabubabad district was washed away, stranding passengers at Kesamudram railway station. In Andhra Pradesh, water flooded National Highway 65 at Chillakallu and Nandigama, while the Paleru River overflowed, blocking routes between Suryapet and Khammam. Authorities have advised travelers to postpone journeys on these routes.
The ongoing rainfall, caused by a depression over north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, is expected to weaken over the next 24 hours as it moves west-northwest across south Odisha and south Chhattisgarh. However, significant rainfall has already been recorded, with Malyal in Mahabubabad district receiving 40 cm, Mahabubabad 37 cm, and Kodada in Suryapet district 35 cm by Sunday morning.