Telangana heavy rains: IMD issues fresh alert for several districts including Hyderabad

Telangana witnessed widespread disruption on Sunday as heavy rains lashed several districts, displacing residents, flooding farmlands, and damaging crucial infrastructure. Thousands of acres of crops were inundated, while roads, culverts, and bridges suffered severe damage, cutting off access to multiple villages, The Times of India reported.

Unlike most of the state, Hyderabad and its neighbouring districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy remained comparatively dry, recording only light to moderate showers. However, other parts of Telangana faced the monsoon havoc. Adilabad district in particular recorded very heavy rainfall, with measurements ranging between 119 mm and 173 mm, according to a report by Telangana Today.

Though rains slowed down for a brief period on Sunday, they picked up late in the night, worsening the situation in vulnerable areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad, warned that more rainfall is on the way, with heavy showers expected to continue until August 20.

Red alerts in several districts

According to the latest IMD bulletin, Telangana is set to face “heavy to very heavy rainfall” until the morning of August 20. A red alert has been issued for Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad districts from August 18 to 19, cautioning residents of “very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” in isolated locations.

Other districts such as Kamareddy, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Medak, and Sangareddy are warned of heavy showers ranging between 15–20 cm. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also forecast for the remaining districts across Telangana, news agency PTI reported.

Hyderabad’s forecast indicates moderate to heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and intense spells. The IMD further cautioned that thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are likely in several districts until August 22.

On Sunday, Mulugu’s Govindaraopet received 22 cm of rainfall, the highest in the state, followed by 17 cm in Tamsi of Adilabad district. Mancherial recorded 12.5 cm in just an hour and a half. In Bhupalpally, 19 villages were cut off from vehicular traffic as roads were submerged, forcing authorities to divert vehicles through alternate routes.

As per TOI, a breach was reported at Isojipet in Pulkal mandal on the distributary canal of the Singur left bank canal, the second such incident in less than a year. Irrigation officials, who had been releasing water into both canals to store water for minor irrigation tanks and meet vanakalam crop needs, saw their efforts dashed as water gushed out of the damaged structure.

Relief efforts and official inspections

State authorities promptly went into action as reports of flooding and crop loss poured in from different districts. Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha visited the breach site in Pulkal mandal, accompanied by the district collector, the superintendent of police, and irrigation officials. With roads blocked by slush and floodwater, the minister had to travel by tractor to inspect the damage. After reviewing the site, he instructed irrigation officials to begin restoration work without delay. Later, he visited the Singur reservoir to assess inflows and water levels, TOI reported.

Meanwhile, widespread damage was reported across many districts. Cotton and paddy fields in Adilabad, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, and Suryapet districts were submerged, washing away saplings and destroying standing crops. Roads, bridges, and culverts suffered heavy damage, severely affecting local connectivity.

Warangal, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda also faced the fury of the rains, with streams and canals overflowing. In Subhashnagar, Adilabad, four members of a family trapped in their house were rescued safely by NDRF personnel using ropes. In Mulugu, traffic came to a complete halt in 10 villages after Ralla Vagu overflowed onto the Buddaram road.

Khammam district also reported major flooding, with the Munneru river and local streams overflowing, cutting off villages and flooding farmlands.