Watch: Edupayala temple suffers unprecedented damage due to Medak floods

The Sri Vanadurga Bhavani Temple at Edupayala in Medak district has suffered extensive damage after being submerged by the Manjeera river for 52 days due to heavy rains. Temple structures were washed away, and rituals were relocated to the Rajagopuram. Despite prior warnings, authorities failed to take preventive steps.

Medak: The Sri Vanadurga Bhavani Temple at Edupayala has suffered unprecedented damage as the Manjeera river flowed through the premises continuously for 52 days, following heavy inflows caused by torrential rains in the catchment area.

The temple structures, including sheds, grills, tiles, and the prasadam counter, were swept away by the floods, leaving the centuries-old shrine severely damaged.

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According to a source in the temple administration, the total loss is estimated at around Rs 1 crore. The continuous flooding for nearly two months has also distorted the temple’s physical structure.

Sources said the losses could have been mitigated had the temple authorities acted in time. Despite predictions of heavy rains in the Manjeera catchment by irrigation officials and the IMD, precautionary measures such as removing temporary sheds and grills were not taken.

“Had they prepared for the flood, the damage could have been restricted,” the source observed.

As the inflows crossed 1.50 lakh cusecs, the river submerged the entire temple complex, causing extensive damage. An official statement from the temple management on the extent of the loss and the repair works to be undertaken is expected shortly.

Though floodwaters receded on Sunday, officials said it would take about a week to clean the premises, perform pujas inside the sanctum sanctorum, and allow devotees to enter for darshan. The administration will soon launch a full-scale clean-up operation once the river level drops completely.

For the last 52 days, with the temple inundated, priests have been performing daily rituals for the processional deities at the Rajagopuram while devotees were barred from entering the main shrine. The temple, which usually earns substantial revenue during Dasara, has also suffered heavy financial losses due to prolonged closure.

Meanwhile, irrigation authorities at Singur continued to release over 10,000 cusecs downstream by lifting one crest gate, keeping the Manjeera river still flowing above the Ghanpur anicut located upstream of Edupayala.