Four killed as heavy rains wreak havoc in Telangana
23 September, Hyderabad
In Telangana, the flood situation remained grim in several parts of the state despite a brief lull in the heavy rains. Four persons were feared drowned in the flood water in Medak district as several tanks and streams are in spate following heavy inflows due to incessant rains for the past three days under the influence of upper air trough and low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.
The Army has been kept on standby with all relief material in case of any eventuality. Hundreds of Villages marooned while several others have been cut off from the rest of the world as swollen tanks, lakes and streams are flowing over the national highways and railway lines. The rail and bus services have been affected in many villages.
Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Warangal, Nizamabad districts have been the worst hit as storm water flooded a number of villages and colonies in and around Hyderabad. Though the intensity of rainfall came down, the threat of inundation and flooding prevailed in several residential colonies in Hyderabad.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Authorities have set up over 50 night shelters where over two thousand people are staying.
The emergency teams of the GHMC are working round the clock providing relief in the form of clearing water logging, removal of fallen trees, restoring electricity and water supply.
Residents in many areas are using 5 horse power motors to pump out storm water from the cellars of the multi-floor complexes in vein and staying amidst storm water for the past two days. Commuters in Hyderabad have experienced the worst ever situation with roads resembling streams.
However, the woes of commuters have come down following the IT and many other private companies asked employees to work from home and the local administration declared closure of educational institutions till Monday.
However, the state administration is leaving no stone unturned and evacuating people from low laying areas especially near the swollen lakes and streams. About two thousand people have been so far evacuated to night shelters. The evacuation is still underway as the met office warned of heavy rain for next two days and moderate rainfall being reported from various places.
Meanwhile Union Labour Minister Dattatreya today emphasised the need for taking long-term measures to avoid losses due to rains.
Stating that the previous governments have ignored long term interests of the people, he said crops in over 50 thousand acres have been affected. Earlier, he visited the rain-hit colonies in Hyderabad and reviewed the situation with the authorities of the state government and the municipal corporation.