Flash flood risk looms over Telangana; 7 dead as multi-district rescue ops continue

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The toll from rain-related incidents across Telangana since August 12 has risen to seven, with authorities continuing large-scale rescue and search operations in multiple districts.

On Monday, officials recovered the body of a 24-year-old man who had drowned at Edu Bavula waterfalls in Gangaram mandal of Mahbubabad district on August 17.

The deceased, identified as Premkumar from Khammam district, had been missing for two days before his body was found, The Times of India reported.

Meanwhile, three women from Jagtial district remain missing after the car they were travelling in was swept away in a stream on August 16 while returning from Maharashtra.

The incident occurred in Udgir of Latur district. One man in the car managed to save himself by swimming to safety, while search operations are still underway to trace the women.

In Nirmal district, the hunt continues for Tippireddy Gangadhar, a fisherman who was washed away in a stream on August 16 after the gates of the Kadem project were opened.

Special police teams supported by drones, along with NDRF, SDRF, revenue, and fire personnel, have been deployed to trace him.

Nirmal SP Janaki Sharmila assured Gangadhar’s family that rescue efforts will not stop until he is found, according to the TOI report.

Flood alerts

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of low to moderate flash flood risk in Adilabad, Jagtial, Karimnagar, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Medak, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Rajanna Sircilla, Sangareddy, and Vikarabad, officials are on high alert.

Heavy inflows into rivers and reservoirs have already disrupted normal life.

In Medak, residents living along the Manjeera river were put on alert as the Singur project is receiving heavy inflows.

The river was seen flowing in full spate at the Sri Vanadurga Bhavani Temple in Edupayala, with water surging through the sanctum sanctorum. Collector Rahul Raj warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel over the next 48 hours, with more rainfall predicted.

In Mulugu, schools were shut as a precautionary measure, and SP Shabarish urged villagers near the Godavari and other low-lying areas not to attempt crossing streams or bridges.

SDRF and DDRF teams have been deployed to evacuate people if conditions worsen.

Meanwhile, residents of Narayanpet were startled after spotting a 10-foot-long crocodile on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, likely washed ashore by strong currents.

Meanwhile, in Kamareddy’s Shetloor village, four shepherds and 656 sheep were rescued after being stranded on an islet in the Manjeera river.

The eight-hour-long rescue operation, involving SDRF, police, and fire personnel, brought much-needed relief to locals.

Fresh alerts for Telangana

The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in four districts of Telangana on Tuesday According to the IMD forecast issued on Monday evening, extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad districts.

An orange alert has been sounded in 20 districts, including Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Siddipet, Medak, Kamareddy, Vikarabad and Sangareddy.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been declared in districts such as Nalgonda, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, and Jogulamba Gadwal.