Torrential rains continued to wreak havoc across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, causing widespread disruption to daily life. With several areas inundated, the relentless downpour has led to the cancellation of 140 trains and the deployment of 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for rescue operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of Telangana, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
Areas such as Adilabad, Nizamabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, and Mahabubnagar are expected to experience severe weather until Monday morning.
In Andhra Pradesh, heavy rains are forecasted for Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Kakinada, and Nandyala districts.
In Telangana, the state’s revenue minister, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, confirmed that nine people have died in rain-related incidents. In districts like Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahbubabad, and Khammam, local administrations have evacuated residents from several flood-hit villages to safer locations.
Hyderabad has also been hit by heavy rainfall, resulting in severe waterlogging in many parts of the city. All schools in the district have been closed for September 2 as a precautionary measure.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held an emergency review meeting on Sunday to assess the situation. The administration has been working tirelessly to rescue those stranded on rooftops due to waterlogged conditions in Khammam and other areas.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described the situation in Vijayawada and Guntur as dire, with both cities “completely marooned” by floodwaters.
The Vijayawada-Guntur National Highway at Kaza and the Vijayawada-Hyderabad National Highway at Jaggaiahpet were both inundated. Jaggaiahpet alone recorded 26 cm of rainfall within 24 hours, while 14 other mandals registered over 20 cm of rain.
Naidu also pointed out the unusual flow of floodwater towards Vijayawada, which is supposed to be diverted to Kolleru Lake. The administration has begun reinforcing the downstream of Prakasam Barrage with sandbags and other methods.
“We have evacuated 17,000 people to 107 relief camps,” Naidu said, adding that 1.1 lakh hectares of agricultural fields and 7,360 hectares of horticultural land have been damaged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured both chief ministers of all possible assistance from the central government. The Centre has already deployed 26 NDRF teams in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
While 12 teams are currently operating on the ground, 14 additional teams are being dispatched.
The Secunderabad-headquartered South Central Railway (SCR) zone, including the Vijayawada Division, has cancelled 140 trains and diverted 97 more as a safety measure due to the heavy flooding.
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