Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy convened a high-level meeting on Sunday with his cabinet colleagues and senior officials from all departments to address the relentless rainfall lashing the state for the past few days. The Chief Minister directed officials to remain on high alert for rescue, rehabilitation, and road clearance operations, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted that heavy rains would continue for the next three days.
Concerned about the safety of schoolchildren, the Chief Minister ordered that all schools be closed on Monday to avoid any risk associated with children commuting during the downpour. He also instructed Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari to ensure that officials from critical departments remain available by suspending all leaves and recalling any employees who were on leave due to the emergency.
Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across Telangana and parts of neighboring Andhra Pradesh, severely impacting normal life. A railway track was washed away near Tallapusapally village in Kesamudram Mandal on Sunday morning, causing the suspension of train services at Kesamudram and Mahabubabad railway stations. Additionally, train services on the Vijayawada-Warangal route were affected after a local stream overflowed, submerging the tracks near Vijayawada and halting train movements on the Vijayawada-Khammam route.
The Telangana government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday across the state due to the worsening weather conditions. The erstwhile Warangal district, in particular, has been heavily battered since Saturday night, leading to overflowing lakes and ponds.
In Mahabubabad district’s Kuravi Mandal, the village of Nallela was inundated late Saturday night, marking the first severe flooding in the area in two decades. As floodwaters rapidly engulfed their homes, many residents were forced to evacuate to higher ground or seek refuge on rooftops. Swift action by Kuravi police and revenue officials led to the rescue of approximately 20 families, totaling around 100 people, with no casualties reported.
The floodwaters also breached the upper catchment areas of Ayodhya Lake in Mahabubabad Mandal, impacting low-lying regions, including the outskirts of Tallapusapally village in Kesamudram Mandal. Several lakes, such as Rajulakothapalle in Nellikudur Mandal, Ayodhya in Mahabubabad Mandal, Ammapuram and Bechharajpalle in Maripeda Mandal, and Nallela in Kuravi Mandal, have suffered breaches, causing floodwaters to spill onto roads. The overflowing water has disrupted traffic on the Maripeda-Thorrur road, where police and revenue officials have been working tirelessly to clear the roads and restore traffic flow.
In response to the escalating situation, the Telangana government has established a special control room at the Secretariat to monitor the rainfall and flooding. The control room, set up under the Disaster Management Department, operates from Room No. 34 on the Ground Floor of the Secretariat. The control room contact number is 040-2345 4088. Officials are maintaining continuous communication with district authorities to provide necessary assistance and directives to manage the crisis.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has asked all government departments to remain on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents. In coordination with Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, the Chief Minister directed officials from the Revenue, Municipal, Electricity, and Health Departments to be on standby. He emphasized the need to evacuate people from low-lying areas to safer places, especially in view of the reservoir gates being lifted.
A separate incident occurred when 56 passengers of a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus were stranded in floodwaters on the outskirts of Topanpalle village on Saturday night. Neekonda police, with the help of an earth mover, successfully rescued the passengers who had spent the night on the bus.
Floodwaters also overflowed from drains into various colonies in Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet, causing significant hardships for residents. Several areas under the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) experienced a flood-like situation, with both main roads and lanes submerged. In response, GWMC officials deployed Special Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and established a control room at the GWMC headquarters to manage the crisis. Citizens have been advised to report issues to the toll-free numbers: 1800 425 1980, 9701999645, and 9701999676.
GWMC Mayor Gundu Sudha Rani and Commissioner Ashwini Tanaji Wakade have canceled the leaves of GWMC employees to ensure they are available for emergency response. Employees are tasked with evacuating residents from low-lying areas to rehabilitation centers if necessary.
The flooding situation continues to affect various regions. Katakshapur Lake in Athmakur Mandal, Warangal district, is fully overflowing, disrupting small vehicle traffic on National Highway 163. Mahabubabad District Collector Adwait Kumar Singh has identified 51 low-lying villages in the district and instructed Gram Panchayat and revenue officials to visit these areas and evacuate families to nearby government schools. Food, drinking water, and medical support are being arranged for affected residents as the government intensifies its relief efforts amidst the ongoing heavy rains
