Pre-monsoon rains wreak havoc across Telangana

Farmers have faced significant setbacks as rainwater inundated harvest and procurement centres, leaving freshly harvested crops submerged. With the southwest monsoon starting to impact weather conditions, several regions are now experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall.

Hyderabad: Telangana has been battered by thunderstorms and pre-monsoon showers over the past week, with the last 24 hours bringing extensive damage across multiple districts.

Farmers have been severely impacted as rainwater has flooded harvest and purchase centres, submerging freshly harvested crops. The southwest monsoon is beginning to influence weather patterns, leading to moderate to heavy rainfall in various regions.

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Narayanpet and Jogulamba Gadwal districts received heavy rainfall. The untimely rainfall has caused disruptions across several districts. In Mahabubnagar, continuous downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning has resulted in waterlogging in paddy in harvest centres and purchase centres in a big way. At places, even roads were submerged and low-lying areas experiencing flooding. Water has entered homes in certain colonies.

Roads and the government hospital areas were affected by water logging in Mahabubnagar on Tuesday, prompting precautionary measures from district revenue officials. The Clock Tower Junction continued to experience torrential rain on Wednesday, causing water accumulation in low-lying neighbourhoods. Residents of the 523 survey number colony for differently-abled are facing severe hardships due to the rain. They were rendered partially homeless in the aftermath of a previous demolition drive taken up by the Congress government in the district.

Jogulamba Gadwal district experienced overnight rainfall causing hardships to farmers. Narayanpet district also reported an incident where three cattle were electrocuted near the Mudumal Lift Irrigation Scheme due to inadequate fencing around the transformer. In erstwhile Nizamabad, several villages, including Lingampet, Banswada, Ibrahimpet, and Tirumalapur, experienced strong winds and heavy showers. In Banswada town, roads that came under a sheet of water resembled running streams, while power outages were reported due to trees falling in many areas.

Khammam district too was affected by sudden rain, leading to the loss of 22 cattle due to lightning. One fatality was recorded in Yellandu, where a farmer working in his field was struck by lightning.

The revenue mandals of Chunchupalli and Mulkalapalli reported damage to paddy stock due to flooding. Authorities have advised residents to stay alert as further showers are anticipated.

Northern districts like Adilabad, Nirmal, and Asifabad had intense thunderstorms while central and eastern districts, including Siddipet, Medchal, Karimnagar, Sircilla, Jagtial, Medak, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, and Sangareddy, experienced heavy showers on Tuesday, following scattered rains earlier. Southern districts such as Nalgonda, Suryapet, Khammam, Wanaparthy, and Nagarkurnool saw scattered intense rains, especially near the Andhra Pradesh border. Other districts, including Mahabubabad, Mulugu, Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Jangaon, faced storms. The districts of Mancherial, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, and Bhadradri Kothagudem also saw scattered showers.

Heavy rain is expected during the next four days in different districts, including Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal. Thunderstorms with gusty winds reaching 30 – 40 kmph are likely across Telangana, including Hyderabad.

An orange alert has been issued for Thursday in northern and central districts such as Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Jagtial, Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Medak, Wanaparthy, Mahabubnagar, and Nagarkurnool.

The India Meteorological Department has announced that the southwest monsoon is progressing rapidly and is expected to reach Kerala within the next four to five days.

Lightning claims shepherd’s life

Lightning claimed the life of a shepherd in Otayi village of Mahabubabad district on Wednesday. Esaboina Cheralu, who was grazing his sheep in the open fields, was struck by lightning resulting in his instant death.

In Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts, incessant rains continued for the whole day, culminating in an intense downpour in the evening that lasted for more than half an hour causing disruption to life.

In Nizamabad city, low-lying areas were submerged due to water stagnation. In Kamareddy district centre, the torrential rains affected farmers heavily, particularly those in the marketyard. Paddy stocks moved in for sale were drenched in rainwater, leading to distress among farmers attempting to salvage their crop from being completely ruined. A sudden downpour hit normal life in Suryapet district. In Nallabandgudem village, lightning struck a herd of goats, killing 30 of them on the spot.

Minister’s chopper makes emergency landing

Meanwhile, Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy’s helicopter made an emergency landing in Kodad due to adverse weather conditions. The chopper was scheduled to land at Mellacheruvu in Huzurnagar mandal, but was rerouted following recommendations from the IMD.

With dark clouds and stormy winds surrounding the area, the pilot took necessary precautions to ensure a safe landing. The Minister later travelled to Huzurnagar by road.

BRS senior leader and former minister, T. Harish Rao on Wednesday demanded the government to act on rain-related losses which he said were extensive. He insisted on payment of compensation to the affected families.