Rain havoc in Telangana and Andhra, train services hit amid heavy flooding

Heavy rain battered several parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, causing severe flooding and crippling normal life.

Several low-lying areas have been submerged, and roads are under the water, affecting the movement of traffic and disconnecting places. Train services were also disrupted in Andhra Pradesh as the coastal states brace for more rain in the coming days due to the ongoing impact of a depression in the Bay of Bengal.

In Andhra Pradesh, which experienced flooding and landslides, at least eight people have been killed in rain-related incidents. Several residents from low-lying areas have been moved to safer locations, and around 80 people have been rescued from various spots as the national and state disaster relief forces and police conduct operations.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who cancelled all his programs on Saturday due to the adverse weather conditions, has been continuously monitoring the situation, according to officials. He also directed officials to immediately release Rs 3 crore to each district to undertake relief measures.

Of the eight victims, five died in landslides at Mogalrajapuram in Vijayawada. The landslides occurred at a single point in Mogalrajapuram, with large boulders falling on two houses due to the heavy rain, officials said.

In Guntur district, a teacher and two students returning home died after their car was washed away while crossing an overflowing stream.

The most affected areas include Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Gudivada, Kaikaluru, Narasapuram, Amaravati, Mangalagiri, Nandigama, and Bhimavaram, among other places.

TRAIN SERVICES HIT
The flood and rain situation has affected train services on the Vijayawada-Warangal route.

After a local stream overflowed, submerging the track near Vijayawada, train movements on the Vijayawada-Khammam route were stopped.

Similarly, another swollen stream disrupted train services at Tandalapusalapalli near Mahabubabad railway station, affecting the Warangal-Khammam route.

Additionally, rainwater flowing over the tracks near Kesamudram railway station forced railway authorities to stop trains at nearby stations.

In many areas, roads are inundated and waterlogged, disrupting normal life. Reports of damage to properties have also emerged across the state.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has warned that most rivers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are expected to swell over the next two days.

To coordinate rescue efforts, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced a state-level control room for public SOS, which works in coordination with disaster management agencies and the health department.

The government advised citizens to contact the control room at +919032384168 for emergency medical services.

A three-member team headed by Dr Subrahmanyeswari (+917386451239) and Dr MV Padmaja (+9183748935490) will continuously monitor emergency medical services in the control room until September 3, officials said.

According to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department, the depression crossed the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam early in the morning on September 1. It is likely to continue moving northwestwards across north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana during the next 24 hours.

TELANGANA BRACES FOR HEAVY RAIN
Heavy rain also continued in many parts of Telangana, leading to the inundation of low-lying areas and disruption of transportation. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy asked officials of all government departments to remain alert and take measures to prevent any untoward incidents. The incessant rain lashed the state capital Hyderabad as well.

The government also directed that people in low-lying areas be shifted to relief camps immediately, and instructed the opening of control rooms in every district collector’s office as well as in Hyderabad.

The state Chief Secretary said on Saturday that an advance plan for evacuating people from flood-affected areas and setting up relief camps should be prepared.

As floodwaters submerged many areas, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka led a midnight visit to the Madhira area to oversee the relief operations.

The downpour affected people in several districts, including Mahabubabad, Narayanpet, and Khammam, among others.

According to the weather department, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Jagital, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal, and other districts on Sunday.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were stationed in Hyderabad and Vijayawada.