1000 evacuated as Telangana still struggles to overcome flood situation

With heavy downpour pummelling Telangana over the past few days, authorities are keeping a watch on the flood situation even as over 1,000 villagers were evacuated in Karimnagar district.

The water from the under-construction Mid Manair Dam in Boinapally mandal of Karimnagar had started overflowing from the bund and the earthen embankment had got breached, resulting in floods in the area.

“Over 1,000 villagers staying in six villages near the Mid Manair dam, which was overflowing, were evacuated last evening. It was a precautionary evacuation… the situation has now improved and they will be sent back today,” Special Chief Secretary (Revenue) Pradeep Chandra told PTI today.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had yesterday directed his ministerial colleagues to stay in their respective districts and monitor the flood situation and supervise relief and rehabilitation works.

In view of the flood situation, Rao cancelled the Cabinet meeting scheduled today and asked the ministers to work in coordination with district-level officials and ensure evacuation of people from the low-lying areas to safer places.

In the wake of increasing flow in Godavari river and its tributaries following heavy rains in the catchment areas of the river in Maharashtra, the Chief Minister directed the district ministers, officials and also the police of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts, to remain alert.

Rao further directed Warangal district administration to be on high alert as river Godavari is in full spate. The river is receiving huge inflows, therefore those living on the banks of the river should be alerted.

Similarly, the CM asked the minister T Nageshwara Rao to maintain alertness in Khammam district as the water level in the river could reach danger level at Bhadrachalam in the district.

“We are taking measures in view of the heavy rains in the past few days in the state including in Hyderabad, which is unprecedented after the 1908 floods in the city,” he said.

DIG (Warangal Range) Ravi Varma told PTI, “We are keeping a watch on water level in Warangal and Khammam districts. Our personnel have been deployed in the villages along the river bank, if necessary, the process of evacuation will begin.” Telangana Irrigation Minister Harish Rao had informed the Chief Minister that all projects in Godavari basin have received inflows to their full capacity and also briefed him about the necessary measures taken to handle the situation.

So far, 11 people have died in rain-related incidents in Telangana. While eight deaths were reported in Medak district, three were from Warangal.

In capital Hyderabad, some of the low-lying areas are still inundated, even as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and some NGOs are offering essential food items, such as milk, for relief of those affected.

Also, four columns of Army are already deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. Besides, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue work, if necessary.