Telangana floods: Heavy winds and rain cause wall collapse, killing 2 women; CM chairs emergency review meeting

Two women were killed when a wall collapsed in Kottapalli in Telangana's Narayanpet district as heavy rains continued to lash many parts of the state. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday (September 1) held an emergency review with ministers, officials and elected members and directed them to take immediate relief measures in flood-affected areas.

Incidents of waterlogging and fallen trees were reported in the state capital Hyderabad due to persistent rainfall during the night. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an “orange” alert for the city, with heavy rain expected till late night.

However, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of children, the government ordered all schools in Hyderabad district to be closed as heavy rain is expected on Monday (September 2).

According to the Central South Railway, six trains were canceled and nine trains were diverted due to heavy rain and waterlogging on many tracks.

Here's everything you need to know:

• Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy convened an emergency review meeting and directed the establishment of control rooms in the worst-affected districts of Suryapet, Kamam, Mahbubabad and Warangal. He instructed relevant departments to take immediate relief measures to the affected areas
• He along with ministers Bhatti Vikramarka, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageshwar Rao, Damoh Damodara Raja Narasimha and Jupalli Krishna Rao speak on phone and inquire about rescue operations in submerged areas
• The chief minister appealed to people not to venture out of their homes unless there is an emergency. People living in low-lying areas are advised to be vigilant and notify authorities in case of emergency or need for assistance
• He directed ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs to stay in their areas and carry out rescue operations. State secretariat opens a control room to monitor heavy rains in state
• The Meteorological Department said that moderate to heavy rains and thundershowers are likely to occur in Hyderabad, along with wind gusts of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. It also forecasts low to moderate risk of flash floods in Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medhal, Vikarabad and Sangareddy districts
• An “orange” alert has been issued for Hyderabad and heavy rain is expected till evening. While there were no reports of casualties in the area, waterlogging and several tree falls were reported, and water stagnant spots have been cleared. Water flow in Hussain Sagar Lake also increased after heavy rainfall
• As heavy rain is expected in Hyderabad district, all primary and secondary schools under all administrations (government, aided and private) will be closed on Monday (September 2) as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of children
• Passengers on the train at Kesamudram railway station were stranded as part of the debris under the railway tracks near Kesamudram in Mahabubabad district was washed away by floods. Therefore, all trains from Vijayawada to Warangal, Warangal to Vijayawada, Delhi to Vijayawada are suspended
• Telangana Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu visited flood-affected areas and relief shelters in Khammam constituency in the early morning. He also directed officials to make necessary arrangements for flood victims
• Heavy rains also affected neighboring Andhra Pradesh, with aerial footage capturing severely inundated areas in Vijayawada such as Nandamuri Nagar, Ajith Singh Nagar, Raja Rajeswararao Pet. Several houses and cars were submerged in Ramakrishnapuram area. Police and NDRF teams are rescuing the affected people and shifting them to rehabilitation centres. The Pulichintala project dam is also currently overflowing.

What are IMD’s predictions?

The MeT warned that heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, Jogulamba Gadwal, Mahbubabad, Jangaon and other districts of Telangana till September morning 8:30 2. A red warning is issued for this forecast.

According to reports, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at a few places in Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jagital, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Vikarabad, Sangareddy and other districts.

What is the government's response?

Moderate to heavy rains hit many parts of the state on Saturday (August 31), resulting in flooding of low-lying areas and disruption of road connections between villages in some areas.

Revanth Reddy held a conference call with senior officials and chief secretaries, DGPs and officials of state municipal administration, energy, panchayati raj, HYDRAA, irrigation departments and asked to remain vigilant for the next 24 hours. He ordered the district collector, social security department, revenue, irrigation and municipal officials to conduct field visits to flood-hit residential areas.

Leaders of all important departments have been clearly instructed to cancel their vacations and immediately rush to rain-stricken areas to participate in earthquake relief work. Officials of the emergency department have also been asked to send updates on heavy rains at the site to the CMO office from time to time.