Telangana reels under heaviest rains in 50 years, multiple deaths and floods

Heavy rains and floods continue to devastate Telangana, with multiple deaths, missing persons, submerged colonies, and damaged roads and railway tracks. Over 1,400 people have been rescued, while the Army, SDRF, and NDRF assist in ongoing relief operations

Hyderabad: Heavy rains continued to batter several parts of Telangana on Thursday, leading to loss of lives, flooding and large-scale damage to infrastructure. Officials said this was the heaviest downpour in such a short span in 50 years.

Two persons were swept away along with their car in Neelakatta Vagu at Domakonda, while another died in a wall collapse in Kamareddy district. In a separate incident, Bestha Satyam and Yada Goud from Rajapet village were swept away while crossing Rajapet bridge at Gandari Vagu. SDRF teams managed to retrieve the body of Satyam, while Goud remained missing till late evening.

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At Narmala village in Rajanna-Sircilla district, five people, who were stranded on a small island, were rescued with two Army helicopters coming in.

The State government said 1,444 persons were rescued from flood-affected areas and six were still missing till 6.30 pm on Thursday. One person was missing at Ramarao Palle in Jagtial, while two were missing in Wadi village, Medak. One was missing at Kasbe Katkoor village, Rajanna-Sircilla, one at Paleru vagu, Suryapet, and one at LMD backwaters, Karimnagar.

Heavy inflow into the Upper Manair Vagu damaged one side of the bridge at Bandalingampally in Yellareddypet mandal, forcing closure of traffic.

Crop loss

Officials said this was the heaviest downpour in such a short span in 50 years. Large tracts of farmland were inundated. The crop loss was being assessed, they said.

About 14 locations received over 100 mm rainfall from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm on Thursday. Ramareddy mandal in Kamareddy received the highest rainfall of 171.3 mm, followed by 163.8 mm in Kaldurki, Bodhan and 163.3 in Thumpally, Nizamabad.

About 15 SDRF and five NDRF teams are on the ground in the rain-hit districts. In addition, 100 Army personnel from the TASA unit in Hyderabad have been deployed for rescue and relief in Medak.

Widespread damage has been reported from Kamareddy and Medak districts. At Rameshwarpally in Bhiknoor mandal, a railway track caved in, halting train services.

Several colonies, including Housing Board Colony, GR Colony, Teachers Colony and Sarampally ST Residential School in Kamareddy, were submerged. Food and essential supplies are being distributed to residents. National Highway 44 caved in at three locations, disrupting traffic.

Heavy vehicles from Hyderabad towards Adilabad were being diverted via Medchal–Siddipet–Karimnagar–Jagtial–Metpally to rejoin NH-44 at Nirmal. Light vehicles from Toopran to Siddipet were also being rerouted. Traffic from Adilabad to Hyderabad was being diverted from Nirmal Kondapally bridge through Khanapur–Jagtial–Karimnagar–Rajiv Rahadari to Hyderabad.

Water is overflowing on 47 roads, 23 culverts and 15 bridges, officials said. Traffic has been blocked at these points with barricades, while joint teams of Police, Revenue and Panchayat Raj departments are monitoring the situation. Tanks have breached at 16 places and alerts have been issued to all affected villages.

Damages to roads, culverts and bridges have been reported at 85 major locations. At Shamnapur on Akkanpet–Ramayampet line, a railway track was damaged and services cancelled.

In Nizamabad, breach of Hanmajipet Cheruvu led to flooding of Nadimi Thanda, Kunta Thanda and Birappa Thanda in Dharpally mandal. About 200 families were evacuated safely with SDRF assistance.