Telangana Flood Crisis: Over 100 Villages Submerged, 99 Trains Cancelled - Key Updates

Heavy rainfall has continued to wreak havoc across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, resulting in severe flooding, loss of life, and widespread disruption.

Over recent days, relentless downpours have caused rivers to swell, inundating vast areas, including major cities such as Hyderabad and Vijayawada, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Photo Credit: PTI

Telangana Flood Crisis | 99 Trains Cancelled

In response to the crisis, emergency meetings were held by the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, to assess the situation and coordinate rescue operations.

The situation in Khammam district has been 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. He has informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the severe conditions, including the specific locations where individuals are trapped.

In reaction to the flooding, nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to Telangana from Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Assam. These teams have begun rescue operations following directives from the Union home minister.

Andhra Pradesh has also faced severe impacts from the heavy rainfall. The city of Vijayawada has experienced extensive flooding, particularly in the Rama Krishna Puram area, where homes and vehicles have been submerged. Both the NDRF and local police are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations, moving affected residents to rehabilitation centres.

Key Points on the Flood Situation:

1. School Closures: The Telangana government has declared a holiday for all primary and secondary schools in Hyderabad on Monday, September 2, to ensure the safety of children.

2. Weather Warnings: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red warnings for parts of Telangana, predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in districts such as Adilabad and Mahabubnagar over the next few days.

3. Submerged Villages: Khammam district in Telangana is among the worst-affected areas, with 110 villages underwater. More than 100 people are stranded on hillocks and rooftops, awaiting rescue.

4. Infrastructure Damage: Portions of railway tracks have been washed away, and several houses have collapsed due to the flooding. In Mogalrajapuram, Andhra Pradesh, a woman was killed when a rock fell on her house due to the rains.

5. Waterlogging: Severe waterlogging and flooding have been reported in Hyderabad and Vijayawada. In Hyderabad, overnight rainfall led to widespread waterlogging, while in Vijayawada, areas like Rama Krishna Puram have been submerged.

6. Fatalities: In Telangana, a woman died after her car was swept away by floodwaters in Mahabubabad district. Her father, who was with her, remains missing. Additionally, two family members are feared to have been washed away in Khammam district after their house wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

7. Railway Disruptions: The heavy rainfall has caused significant disruption to railway services, resulting in the cancellation of 99 trains, partial cancellations of four trains, and the diversion of 54 trains.

8. Stranded Passengers: Flooding and breaches in railway tracks have stranded five trains in the Kazipet to Vijayawada section, leading to the evacuation of passengers and provision of food and other necessities.

9. Continued Rainfall: The IMD has forecasted continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning for the next five days in isolated areas across North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, further exacerbating the critical situation.