Telangana declares holidays for all educational institutions for 3 days
Hyderabad: In the wake of torrential rains across the State, holidays have been declared for all educational institutions from July 11 to 13. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao took a decision to this extent and directed the officials to take all necessary measures to ensure that there is no loss of life or property due […]
Hyderabad: In the wake of torrential rains across the State, holidays have been declared for all educational institutions from July 11 to 13. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao took a decision to this extent and directed the officials to take all necessary measures to ensure that there is no loss of life or property due to the rains.
He chaired a high-level meeting with the Ministers and top officials at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday afternoon to review the impact of rains, flood levels in various water bodies, and measures being taken by the State government including evacuation of people from low-lying areas among others. All the government officials were asked to remain alert as well as initiate necessary precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life and property due to the incessant rains.
The Chief Minister reviewed the prevailing water levels in various reservoirs, dams, tanks and other water bodies amid huge inflows. The officials were instructed to evacuate people residing in low-lying areas which were prone to submergence due to flooding. With special focus on erstwhile Nizamabad district which is experiencing heavy downpour, the Chief Minister ordered for deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State DRF and other rescue teams as well as helicopters for rescue operations. The government sought the support of Indian Air Force to use its helicopters in rescue operations. He also wanted deployment of the rescue teams in Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Kothagudem districts.
Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar was instructed to set up a State level control room and monitor the rain situation constantly in coordination with the district officials. All the collectors of the districts which were affected due to the rains, were asked to establish control rooms to assist people and take up rescue operations, wherever needed. People were advised not to venture out and avoid travelling unless there is an emergency in the districts which were witnessing heavy rains.
On the occasion, the officials informed that Eturunagaram and Ramannagudem areas were facing a flood threat and evacuation has been taken up in low-lying areas. In the wake of heavy rainfall alert over next couple of days, the officials of erstwhile Sangareddy, Medak and Nizamabad were asked to remain on a high alert. The Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited officials were asked to take immediate measures to restore power supply in case of any interruptions due to rains.
To oversee the rescue and relief operations in low-lying areas, senior IAS and IPS officers will be assigned to each rain-affected district. They were asked to communicate the latest situation to the Chief Minister’s Office at regular intervals. The Irrigation department will monitor the flood levels in reservoirs and barrages in the neighbouring States to take preventive measures in the downstream projects in Telangana.
In Hyderabad city, Chandrashekhar Rao directed the officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and surrounding municipalities to take all measures to prevent loss of lives and properties due to snapping of live wires and collapse of old walls. The Health department was instructed to take all measures to prevent spreading of seasonal and contagious diseases. Considering the inflows into Hussainsagar, Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar as well as other water bodies in Hyderabad, the officials were asked to take all measures to avoid submergence of low-lying areas and evacuate people in case of any flooding.
Speaking to mediapersons on the occasion, the Chief Minister said inflow of about 9.10 lakh cusecs was recorded at Sammakka barrage in Godavari River. The Sri Ram Sagar Project which has already reached 68 TMC capacity, was likely to reach its full capacity by Monday with over 4 lakh cusecs of inflows. All the elected representatives were asked to remain in their headquarters to provide necessary support to the people during the rains.
Two labourers from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh died following a wall collapse in Nalgonda district. An exgratia of Rs 3 lakh each was given to the bereaved families and bodies were transported to their native place.
