Hyderabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Jangaon, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rajanna Sircilla and Karimnagar districts for Wednesday, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) very likely to occur at isolated places in these districts.
A red alert indicates extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours.
Bheemadevarapalle in Hanumakonda district received 412.3 mm rainfall, followed by Kalleda 382.3 mm, Urus 336.8 mm and
Redlawada 333.3 mm in Warangal district, from 8.30 AM to 9 PM, the Telangana Development Planning Society said.
Heavy rains lashed different parts of Telangana on Wednesday, October 29, due to the impact of severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’, which crossed the coast in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh overnight. One person died and another was feared washed away in separate rain-related incidents.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reviewed the impact and asked officials to remain on high alert, especially ensuring necessary arrangements at paddy and cotton procurement centers.
Disaster response forces have been instructed to coordinate with district collectors of the worst-hit areas and relocate families from low-lying areas to relief camps. Nearly 500 students, besides 26 teaching and non-teaching staff from the state-run residential boys school at Komapally in Nalgonda district, were rescued and shifted to a safer place after the premises were inundated due to heavy rains, reported PTI.
Irrigation department officials have been instructed to closely monitor water levels at all projects, reservoirs and other water bodies and alert district collectors before releasing water from the overflowing water bodies.
Police and revenue officials have been asked to barricade flooded bridges and divert traffic from low-level bridges and causeways. Municipal and village sanitation staff have been asked to undertake continuous sanitation work.
Adequate availability of medicines, opening of medical camps, and precautions to prevent loss of life, property and livestock are also being looked after in the heavy rain-hit areas.
GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan and HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath also inspected Lakdikapul, Masab Tank, and nearby areas where water stagnation was reported and directed officials to ensure quick removal of blockages. They also asked the pipe-laying and desilting works near Mahaveer Hospital–Mehdi Function Hall stretch to be expedited.
SCR sets up help desk to enquire about running trains
Several trains have been cancelled or rescheduled owing to waterlogging at Dornakal railway station.
The downpour driven by the cyclone has led to large-scale disruption of rail traffic, cancellation of several trains, and diversion of others.
The flooding led to the halting of multiple trains: Golconda Express, bound for Hyderabad, was stopped at Dornakal Junction as tracks were submerged, while the Krishna Express, bound for Tirupati, was halted at Mahabubabad.
Several goods trains were also stranded along the Warangal–Khammam route. The Sainagar Shirdi Express had to be halted at Kondapalli in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.
In total, SCR has so far cancelled 127 trains and diverted 14 trains due to Cyclone Montha.
List of trains cancelled
- Train No. 67768 Vijayawada–Dornakal has been cancelled from service on October 29
- Train No. 67766 Dornakal–Kazipet on October 29
- Train No. 12748 Vikarabad–Guntur on October 29
- Train No. 07001 Charlapalli–Tirupati on October 29
- Train No. 07251 Charlapalli–Tiruchanur on October 29
- Train No. 07002 Tirupati–Charlapalli on October 30
- Train No. 07252 Tiruchanur–Charlapalli on October 30
List of trains partially cancelled
- Vijayawada–Bhadrachalam (67215) between Pandillapalli and Bhadrachalam Road
- Bhadrachalam–Vijayawada (67216) between Bhadrachalam Road and Pandillapalli
- Sirpur Town–Bhadrachalam (17034) between Kazipet and Bhadrachalam Road
Trains diverted
Train No. 16031 MGR Chennai Central–SMVD Katra, on Oct 29 via Vijayawada, Duvvada, Vizianagaram, Rayagada, Titlagarh, Raipur, and Nagpur, skipping stops between Vijayawada and Nagpur.
Train No. 18189 Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express via Kazipet, Moula Ali Cabin, Kacheguda, Dhone, Gooty, Renigunta, and Melpakkam Cabin, skipping stoppages between Vijayawada and Katpadi.
Volunteers at Vijayawada division are trying to clear out fallen trees to prevent any inconvenience, while an RTC bus has been arranged for around 60 stranded passengers of the Vande Bharat Express at Khammam.
Truck washed away in Khammam
A DCM truck was also washed away in the overflowing Nimmavagu at Anjanapuram in Khammam when a driver reportedly ignored warnings and tried to cross a low-lying bridge. The driver was washed away with the truck and is currently missing.
Power disruptions
Heavy rains also resulted in power disruptions in a few districts including Khammam and Bhadrachalam divisions. Officials are on the ground working to restore outages and rectify breakdowns. Citizens can reach out to 1912 / 1800-425-0028 for further support from TGNPDCL staff.
In Hanumakonda, water entered the 33/11 KV Balasamudram substation and TGNPDCL are working to restore power. A toll free helpline 7981975495 has been issued by the district collector for citizens to reach out in case of emergencies.
Warangal receives 200 mm of rainfall
Several areas of Warangal district recorded rainfall of over 200 mm by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, according to the Telangana development planning society data. Worst hit areas include Redlawada, Kalleda, Urus and Kapulakanaparthy.
In Hyderabad, Musheerabad, Begumpet and Secunderabad were the worst hit, receiving around 40 mm of rainfall.
An orange alert was issued for Hanamakonda, Hyderabad, Jangaon, Karimnagar, Malkajgiri, Mahabubabad, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Siddipet, Suryapet, Warangal, and Yadadri–Bhongir districts, while a yellow alert was issued for 18 other districts including Khammam, Bhupalapally, and Nizamabad.
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