Telangana And Andhra Pradesh Floods: Amit Shah Pledges Central Aid Amid Crisis

Heavy rainfall in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has led to severe flooding, resulting in loss of life, disruption, and extensive rescue operations. Authorities in both states are coordinating with central assistance to manage the crisis.

Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, leading to significant loss of life and widespread disruption.In Telangana's Mahabubabad district, a woman lost her life, and her father missing after their car was swept away by floodwaters.

Photo Credit: PTI

States have been experiencing relentless downpours, causing rivers to overflow and submerging large areas, including major cities like Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Emergency meetings were convened by the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, respectively.

These meetings aimed to assess the situation and coordinate rescue operations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured both states of all possible assistance from the Centre to manage the floods.

Rescue Operations in Full Swing

The situation in Khammam district is particularly dire, with 110 villages submerged under floodwaters. Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar reported that 119 people are stranded on hillocks and buildings, awaiting rescue. "Informed Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji about the severe situation in Telangana's Khammam & that 110 villages in the district have been submerged," he posted on X.

Nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been dispatched to Telangana to assist with rescue efforts. These teams are drawn from Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Assam and are already in action following orders from Amit Shah.

Impact on Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has also been severely affected by heavy rainfall. Vijayawada has witnessed severe flooding, especially in the Rama Krishna Puram area where houses and cars were submerged. The NDRF, along with local police, has been actively involved in rescue operations, relocating affected residents to rehabilitation centres.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red warnings for parts of Telangana, predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts over the next few days. Adilabad and Mahabubnagar are among the areas expected to be most affected.

Disruptions Across Both States

The heavy rainfall has severely impacted railways in both states. Floodwaters have washed away portions of railway tracks and caused several houses to collapse. In Mogalrajapuram, Andhra Pradesh, a woman was killed when a rock fell on her house due to the rains.

In Hyderabad, continued overnight rainfall led to widespread waterlogging. Similarly, Vijayawada experienced severe flooding in several areas including Rama Krishna Puram. The IMD has forecasted continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning for the next five days across North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.

Precautionary Measures

The Telangana government declared a holiday for all primary and secondary schools in Hyderabad on Monday as a precautionary measure to ensure children's safety. Authorities are still searching for individuals feared washed away after their house wall collapsed due to heavy rain in Khammam district.

The railways have cancelled 99 trains, partially cancelled four others, and diverted 54 trains due to flooding and breaches in railway tracks. Five trains stranded between Kazipet and Vijayawada sections prompted officials to evacuate passengers and provide them with food and other necessities.

The ongoing heavy rains continue to exacerbate an already critical situation across both states. Efforts are ongoing to manage the crisis effectively while ensuring the safety of affected residents.