Flooded Pocharam dam leaves Kamareddy children stuck in Medak village for three days

Eight schoolchildren from Kamareddy were stranded in Medak for three days after floods cut off the Pocharam dam route. Sheltered in a village panchayat, they await reunion with their parents as rescue attempts failed amid heavy inflows.

Medak: Eight school-going children from Lingampally village in neighbouring Kamareddy district embarked on a tractor journey to buy a Ganesh idol in Havelighanpur of Medak district, crossing the Pocharam dam on Wednesday morning. However, they could not return home even after three days due to heavy rains.

The road leading to Havelighanpur was badly damaged as Nakka Vagu received heavy floods following copious rainfall. When the children attempted to return, the overflowing Pocharam dam—receiving the highest inflows in its 103-year history—prevented them from crossing back into Kamareddy district.

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Some elders, noticing the children stranded, accompanied them to nearby Pochammaral village in Havelighanpur mandal. Since then, the children have been sheltered in the local gram panchayat office. Villagers arranged food, water and shelter for the past three days, while also contacting their parents over the phone. However, even their parents could not reach them as the overflowing Pocharam dam blocked movement across the district border.

The children, distressed at missing the Ganesh festival and being separated from their families, broke down when asked about their plight. On Friday afternoon, an Army rescue team attempted to ferry them across the stream in a boat, but the effort failed, forcing them back to the rehabilitation centre. With the Pocharam dam still receiving heavy inflows, officials said the children may not be able to return home immediately.