Inundation in Telangana Due to Torrential Rains, Relief Efforts Underway

Hyderabad, Aug 28 (PTI) Inundation affected several low-lying areas and agricultural fields in Kamareddy district, Telangana, on Thursday due to torrential rains. Rivulets and other water bodies swelled following heavy rainfall in Kamareddy, Medak, and neighboring districts since Wednesday morning, disrupting road links between villages. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is set to conduct an aerial survey of the hardest-hit districts on Thursday, according to an official release. The Army has mobilized personnel for relief efforts, evacuating stranded citizens, distributing relief material, and relocating families to safer areas in Medak district. They are employing specialized boats, essential equipment, and skilled troops in these operations. Indian Army Southern Command took to 'X' to report that their Flood Relief Columns were swiftly deployed, undertaking comprehensive relief efforts in close coordination with Civil Administration, along with #NDRF and #SDRF. Engineering Task Forces (ETF) are actively removing obstacles and working to restore connectivity, while medical teams are providing urgent care to those affected. "#IndianArmy remains committed to bringing relief & reassurance to affected communities," it stated. On Wednesday evening, State Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao interacted with officials from Medak, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Nirmal, and other districts via teleconference. According to an official statement, the Chief Secretary noted that proactive government measures significantly mitigated the impact of the rains on daily life. He urged officials to remain vigilant in light of the heavy rain forecast for Thursday. Plans to deploy additional State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and NDRF teams to Kamareddy and Nirmal districts have been outlined. State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the 103-year-old Pocharam project in Kamareddy district, constructed during the Nizam regime, successfully withstood a massive inflow of 1.82 lakh cusecs. The South Central Railway (SCR), headquartered in Secunderabad, announced the cancellation of four trains due to water overflow on the tracks in the Gajwel-Lakdaram section of its Hyderabad Division following the heavy rains, according to a release issued late Wednesday. The IMD's Met Centre in Hyderabad forecast heavy rainfall in isolated places, particularly in Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Hanumakonda, among other districts, on Thursday. Tragically, a person lost their life when a wall of their house collapsed on Wednesday in Kamareddy district, and another person is reported missing following the heavy rains. Kamareddy bore the brunt of the downpour, with Argonda in the district recording 418.3 mm of rain between 8:30 am and 9 pm on Wednesday, while Akkapur in Nirmal district reported 302.5 mm. Officials relocated over 500 residents to safer grounds in Kamareddy district on Wednesday and prepared food arrangements for about 1,000 individuals.