Torrential rains lash Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, 10 more killed

Hyderabad/Amaravati: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been battered by torrential rains for the second consecutive day, resulting in severe flooding, widespread waterlogging, and significant disruptions to both road and rail traffic. The relentless downpours have claimed at least 10 more lives and led to a major humanitarian crisis as thousands of residents are evacuated from inundated areas.

The heavy rains have severely impacted the South Central Railway network, with a total of 99 trains cancelled, four partially cancelled, and 54 diverted. Waterlogging on tracks at multiple locations has caused significant disruptions, according to an SCR official. The railway authorities are working to manage the situation, but the ongoing rain continues to create challenges.

In addition to rail disruptions, major roads in the region have been affected. Floodwaters have led to the closure of key national highways, including the Vijayawada-Guntur and Vijayawada-Hyderabad routes. Vehicles have been halted, and residents are advised to avoid travel on these routes.

The situation has prompted a large-scale evacuation effort. Rivers across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are in spate, leading to the displacement of thousands of people. National and state disaster response forces have been mobilised to relocate residents from the worst-affected areas to relief camps.

In Telangana, nine deaths have been reported due to rain-related incidents, with three additional individuals feared drowned in the districts of Mahabubabad and Khammam. The government has been actively working to evacuate residents from flood-hit villages in Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahbubabad, and Khammam.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation and coordinate the response. Meanwhile, Hyderabad has also been severely affected, with heavy rains leading to extensive waterlogging.

In light of the forecasted continued heavy rains, a holiday has been declared for all schools in the Hyderabad district on September 2.

Andhra Pradesh has also faced significant challenges due to the incessant rains. The state has reported nine rain-related deaths and one missing person since Saturday, with a similar number of fatalities reported the previous day. The worst-affected district, Vijayawada, has seen the Budameru rivulet overflow, leading to widespread flooding in city areas such as Ajit Singh Nagar and Swathi Theatre area.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has described Vijayawada and Guntur cities as being completely marooned. The national highways connecting these cities are inundated, complicating rescue and relief efforts. Naidu revealed that Jaggaiahpeta received 26 cm of rainfall in just 24 hours, with 14 mandals reporting over 20 cm of rainfall. Floodwaters have also damaged agricultural fields, with estimates indicating that 1.1 lakh hectares of crops and 7,360 hectares of horticultural fields have been affected.

In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home minister Amit Shah have reached out to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy, offering Central government assistance. Union minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar has confirmed that nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been dispatched to Telangana to assist with rescue operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rain in several districts of Telangana, including Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Rajanna Sircilla, among others. Similar warnings have been issued for parts of Andhra Pradesh. The weather system responsible for the heavy rainfall—a depression over north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha—has moved northwestwards and is expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area in the next 24 hours.