Andhra Pradesh, Telangana floods: 26 NDRF teams deployed for relief ops

The Met Centre has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in several districts, including Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jagital, and others.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is ramping up flood relief efforts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with a total of 26 teams deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations. As of Monday, 12 teams are on-site, and an additional 14 teams are en route, including eight airlifted from various locations across India. The NDRF teams are equipped with inflatable boats, pole and tree cutters, and essential medical supplies.

Torrential rains have continued to pound both states, resulting in at least 10 more fatalities, extensive flooding, and significant disruptions to road and rail traffic.

Floodwaters have surged in rivers across the states, leading to large-scale evacuations by national and state disaster response teams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of all possible assistance from the central government to manage the crisis.

CM Naidu has detailed ongoing flood relief efforts to PM Modi, who instructed central departments to provide immediate help and necessary equipment. Naidu also requested additional NDRF teams, power boats, and helicopters to bolster relief operations.

Chief Minister Naidu conducted a second visit to the flood-affected Ajit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada late Sunday, distributing food packets to residents. Floodwaters have inundated several areas in Vijayawada, with over 10 lakh cusecs of water discharged from Prakasam Barrage at midnight.

In response to the flooding, the South Central Railway (SCR) zone, including the Vijayawada Division, cancelled 140 trains and diverted 97 more on Sunday. Nearly 6,000 passengers received food and water at various railway stations, and alternative travel arrangements were made with 84 buses.

Telangana’s Suryapeta Superintendent of Police, Sunpreet Singh, has advised postponing journeys to Vijayawada and Khammam due to severe weather conditions.

The meteorological department has forecast thunderstorms and lightning in parts of Andhra Pradesh from September 2 to 5, with strong surface winds reaching up to 40 km per hour in some areas.

School Closures and Train Disruptions

In Hyderabad, schools have been closed as a precautionary measure due to heavy rain forecasts. Telangana Minister of Information and Public Relations, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, stated that schools in Hyderabad and surrounding areas are closed to ensure children’s safety during the heavy rains.

Indian Railways has reported severe disruptions to train services. Over 20 trains were canceled, and more than 30 were diverted. Helplines have been set up for passenger assistance at Hyderabad (27781500), Warangal (27782751), Kazipet (27782660), and Khammam (27782885). The railway network has arranged alternative travel by bus to mitigate the impact of train cancellations and diversions.

The Met Centre has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in several districts, including Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jagital, and others. Citizens in low-lying areas are advised to stay vigilant and contact authorities for emergency assistance. A control room has been established at the state Secretariat to monitor the situation.