Flood alerts persist over Andhra-Telangana for the second consecutive day; authorities amp up rescue, relief measures

Relentless torrential rains have brought severe hardship to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day, causing widespread flooding and waterlogging that have severely disrupted daily life. The situation has turned tragic, with the death toll rising to at least 27, and thousands of residents forced to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in relief camps.

Telangana has reported 15 fatalities, while Andhra Pradesh has seen 12 lives lost as rivers in both states overflowed on Sunday, leading to devastating flooding. The national and state disaster response teams have been working around the clock, conducting extensive rescue operations to evacuate thousands of people from the worst-hit areas. These evacuees are being sheltered in relief camps across the affected regions, where they are receiving essential aid.

The heavy downpours have also caused significant disruptions in transportation, particularly in the railway sector. Over 100 trains have been cancelled, and several others have been rerouted due to severe waterlogging on the South Central Railway network, which serves both states. This has caused major delays and inconveniences for passengers. In response, railway authorities have set up helplines in Hyderabad (27781500), Warangal (2782751), Kazipet (27782660), and Khammam (2782885) to assist those affected.

In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, offering the central government's full support, including the deployment of helicopters for emergency services and relief operations. Telangana's Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, held an emergency review meeting to ensure that officials remain vigilant and responsive to the needs of affected citizens. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, made his second visit to the heavily flooded Ajit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada, personally distributing food packets to those in need.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Telangana, including Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Sangareddy, with forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall on Monday. In Andhra Pradesh, the situation is expected to remain severe, with heavy rains likely to persist until September 5 due to an intensifying low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. In anticipation of continued adverse weather, educational institutions in the hardest-hit districts, including Hyderabad and Vijayawada, will remain closed.

Vijayawada has emerged as one of the most severely affected areas in Andhra Pradesh, where the Budameru rivulet has overflowed, flooding numerous neighbourhoods. Similarly, in Telangana, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Efforts to provide relief are being intensified, with additional teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) being airlifted to the affected areas to bolster ongoing rescue operations.

As the heavy rains persist, the situation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remains critical. The combined efforts of state and national disaster management teams, supported by the central government, are focused on reducing casualties and delivering vital assistance to those impacted. However, with more rainfall expected in the days ahead, the challenges are far from over. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain cautious and heed official warnings to stay safe.