Rainfall in Medak district of Telangana has caused heavy havoc, due to which floods have submerged cities, villages and important infrastructure. The news of serious damage has come to light in the Akanpet-Madak railway section, where flood waters completely shed the soil and gravel under the railway track completely. Due to this incident, railway services on this route have come to a complete standstill. South Central Railway (SCR) has suspended major rail services like Medak-Kachiguda and Bodhan-Kachiguda with immediate effect, giving priority to the safety of passengers. Railways have deployed monsoon-special repair teams, which are working day and night to repair the damaged track.
This torrential rains, described as the heaviest rains in the last 50 years, have completely submerged the lower areas of Medak and neighboring Kamreddy districts. The Manjira River is in excess of its capacity and its banks have been flooded with homes and agricultural areas in areas such as Ghanpur, Ramayampet and Shankarampet. The flood waters in Madak’s Dhupa Singh Thanda surrounded the entire village, due to which the residents had to take shelter on the roofs to save their lives. A car was swept away in Nakkagagu drain in Havelighanpur division, but the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) saved the driver safely.
More than 500 people were evacuated to safe places
So far more than 500 people have been evacuated to safe places in Medak and Kamreddy districts. 15 SDRF teams in relief and rescue operations, five National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) units and Hyderabad’s TASA unit are engaged day and night. 350 girls from SC Women’s Degree College Hostel in Ramayampet and 80 others from SC & St Welfare Hostel were evacuated. However, at least three people have lost their lives in this disaster, in which one person died due to falling one wall in Kamreddy and two other people were washed away in the flood waters.
IMD released red alert
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Medak, Kamreddy and the surrounding districts. Havelighanpur recorded 31.6 cm of rainfall in 24 hours, which is extraordinary for the region. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on August 28 and directed the district officials to be vigilant. A control room has been set up in the state secretariat, which is constantly monitoring the situation. Additional NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in sensitive areas.
Road traffic affected badly
Floods have also severely affected road traffic. National Highway 44 was submerged in Narsingi, Medak, due to which hundreds of vehicles got stuck. 47 roads, 23 culverts and 15 bridges have been closed across the district. The farmers have suffered heavy losses, because the crops of maize and vegetables have been submerged in water, due to which a loss of crores of rupees is estimated.
Langana government appeal to people
Rescue operations are going on and the Telangana government has appealed to the residents to stay in homes and avoid travel. Chief Secretary K.K. Ramakrishna Rao said that all available resources have been deployed to control the situation. Signs of lack of water flow in Pocharam reservoir are awakening relief. However, in the next few days, the administration is on high alert in view of the possibility of rain. SCR has issued helpline numbers for railway passengers: Secunderabad (040-27786170), Kachiguda (9063318082), and Kamreddy (040-277783867). It is advisable to take vigilance till the situation in flood affected areas becomes normal.
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