Andhra Pradesh, Telangana rain Highlights: Food air-dropped to residents of Vijayawada, IMD issues heavy rain alert in four Telangana districts

Amidst the heavy rains lashing the State, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), a body working for the welfare of workers, expressed concern for their well-being and demanded that aggregators do more to protect their livelihoods. 

TGPWU President Shaik Salauddin, in a statement, sought the immediate suspension of operations in flood-affected areas or places that have experienced acute waterlogging. They also demanded aggregators compensate workers for lost wages by means of a minimum guarantee. 

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy urged corporate companies and voluntary organisations to extend help to the flood victims.

Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy has directed all State district collectors to evolve a foolproof system on the lines of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to remove all encroachments on lakes/tanks and nalas to protect the water bodies and prevent flooding.

The CM issued directions to this effect during a meeting held in Mahabubabad Collectorate on Tuesday (September 3, 2024). The meeting was held to review the situation arising out of heavy rains that battered the district in the past three days. He visited some of the rain/flood-affected areas before holding the review meeting.

Rainfall intensity has decreased over the past few days in Telangana. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for four districts for Wednesday (September 4, 2024). The IMD bulletin says that heavy rain is expected at isolated locations in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu. Thunderstorms with lightning and strong surface winds are also anticipated at isolated spots in Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, and Mahabubabad districts.

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At least 17 people have died due to severe rain-related and flood-related incidents in the State, while two persons were missing. 

Nine deaths were reported in the NTR district, while seven deaths were reported in the Guntur district as of Tuesday.

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A group of people carrying a woman and their luggage on an iron sheet to the Singh Nagar flyover, where ambulances were available, in Vijayawada on September 3, 2024. Credit: K.V.S. Giri

Vattem pump house of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) was flooded a couple of days back with water from the chain-link tanks of Nagarkurnool entering the tunnel, surge-pool and pump house, flooding the pump house near Kummera village, Nagarkurnool. The incident came to light only on Tuesday (September 3, 2024) as the project authorities tried to keep it under the carpet.

Chief Engineer of PRLIS at Nagarkurnool G. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy confirmed that water had flooded the pump house and the pumping out of water (dewatering) was in progress.

Telangana Rains | Vattem pump house of PRLIS flooded, damage to be assessed after dewatering

Vattem pump house flooded in PRLIS, Nagarkurnool; dewatering in progress; damage assessment pending; project authorities tried to keep the incident under carpet.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy continued to inspect the flood-hit areas in the State on the second day. On Monday, he toured Khammam, spoke to the people in distress and took stock of the damage caused by the heavy rains in the district. 

Today, he reached Mahabubabad district and spoke to the people in distress at Sitaram Thada. He will hold a review meeting at the district collectorate. 

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Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the flood-affected area in Sitaram Naik Thanda in Mahabubabad.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said the government have supplied enough food and transportation and everything is available now in flood affected areas.

“There is no excuse for anybody to reach the last person... First, I want to reach every person. The second is to provide drinking water. Third, from here I have to work for sanitation and rehabilitation. I will work on all these things systematically,” he said.

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The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana Employees, Gazetted Officers, Teachers, Workers, and Pensioners has pledged approximately ₹130 crores to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for flood relief.

Eluri Sreenivasa Rao, Secretary General of the Telangana Employees JAC, stated, “We are 6,50,000 people including employees, pensioners, and others. We receive ₹2000 as basic pay for 1 day. It will be a total of Rs 130 crores approximately.”

“We have announced to give this money to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood relief measures. We are going to give the letter to the Chief Minister in Mahabubabad today,” the tweet further read.

The Indian Air Force carried out relief operations in flood-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada district today.

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People in Krishna Lanka, Ranigari Thota and other areas in the city have been living in fear ever since the water levels in the Krishna River started rising on Saturday (August 30, 2024).

Some of them, living in houses constructed right behind the Riverfront Park, said if not for the retaining wall, the areas would have been underwater by now. Some others said despite the wall, the water is entering their compounds.

As of yesterday 8 p.m., the flood discharge from the Prakasam Barrage was 11,25,376 lakh cusecs.

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The South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled 275 trains and diverted 149 trains on different routes due to heavy rains and floods. Railway authorities said the trains were cancelled keeping in view of the safety of passengers.

The trains Secunderabad-Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad, and Shalimar-Secunderabad were cancelled in both directions. SMVT Bengaluru-Howrah, Kadapa-Visakhapatnam, Adilabad-Nanded, Bhubaneswar-KSR Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam-Guntur trains also were cancelled.

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Due to heavy rains for the last four days, the locals are facing a severe shortage of drinking water. 

The flood victims are seen in long queues for food and drinking water at Chitti Nagar in Vijayawada today as the Municipal department officials provide drinking water through tankers.

PHOTO: G.N. Rao

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre Scientist A. Sravani said that Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh received a staggering 27 cm of rainfall, resulting in widespread flooding and a yellow alert was issued for Adilabad in Telangana.

A Sravani said, “A low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal on August 30, which intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area by August 31. It crossed as a depression on 31st midnight, bringing widespread heavy rainfall and wind to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.”

“Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh received a staggering 27 cm of rainfall, resulting in widespread flooding and inundation,” she added.

She further said that the depression in Telangana state while crossing has given a good amount of rainfall. Telangana might get a good amount of rainfall, especially in Adilabad, where a yellow alert has been issued.

- ANI

Actor Jr NTR announced ₹50 lakhs donation each to Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh which received floods due to heavy rains in the past few days.

In a post on X, he announced the donation towards the flood relief measures taken up by the State governments and prayed for the people of the Telugu States to recover from the calamity soon.

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National Disaster Response Force teams and local officials today began dropping food packets, water bottles and other basic necessities for people in flood-affected areas of Vijayawada.

As many as six helicopters and drones have been deployed for the distribution of food, which includes biscuits, fruits, milk and medicines, an official press release said.

According to a statement from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Ministers, IAS officers and IPS officers are engaged in relief activities ward-wise in the centrally located commercial city, where several neighbourhoods were inundated.

- PTI

SDRF personnel are seen helping a pregnant woman wade through knee-deep water, in Ajith Singh Nagar yesterday.

IMD released a forecast for areas in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), which is valid till 12.00 p.m.

Amid heavy rainfall and flood situation in Andhra Pradesh, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team along with Central forces and district officials, provided food, drinking water, and other essential items to the flood-affected areas in Vijayawada through helicopters.

Meanwhile, Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh said that the state government has for the first time deployed drones to deliver relief materials and food to flood-affected people. This has made relief operations more efficient and quick.

As per the request of the CM, the central government responded immediately and started deploying 10 NDRF teams, 40 power boats and six helicopters to rescue people from flood-affected regions.

Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar asked fishermen to be cautious and not venture into the sea for the next couple of days as the Indian Meteorological Department predicted rains. Although the weather was clear yesterday, thick clouds engulfed the entire Srikakulam district today.

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The milk factory in Vijayawada is seen submerged due to the heavy flood caused by downpours.

Chairman and managing director (CMD) of Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGSPDCL) Musharraf Faruqui asked field engineers and staff to speed up the restoration work as the Discom has suffered heavy infrastructure damage during the rain and winds in the past three days.

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Due to heavy rains for the last four days, the locals are facing severe problems in getting drinking water. Municipal department officials are providing drinking water through tankers at Padamata High School Road in Vijayawada today

Photo: G.N. RAO

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will be visiting flood-affected areas in Mahabubabad district today, the second day of his tour to rain-hit places.

According to official sources, Reddy stayed overnight in Khammam after visiting several places in the town accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues.

“The CM will leave for flood affected areas in Mahabubabad from Khammam today and will also hold a review meeting with officials on the situation,” sources said.

- PTI