Highest ever rainfall recorded in Telangana, rescue ops in Mulugu, Bhupalapally districts

HYDERABAD: Telangana witnessed a record-breaking deluge as torrential rains wreaked havoc across the State, with the highest-ever rainfall recorded in a single day in Mulugu district. As per the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS) records, Mulugu district recorded a staggering 649.8 mm of rainfall by 8 am on Thursday, which is the highest rainfall in the history of the State. The previous record was 517.5 mm at Wajedu in the same district of Mulugu on July 2, 2014.

The heavy downpour has brought life to a standstill and caused widespread flooding, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Hyderabad and seven other districts, including Kamareddy, Medak, Suryapet, Khammam, Sangareddy, Vikarabad, and Nalgonda.

The worst affected area is Moranchapalli village in Jayashankar Bhupalpalli district, which has been completely submerged. Moranchavagu in Moranchapalli village has been in spate and as a result the entire village is submerged. Videos emerged on social media where people were seen standing on rooftops, desperately seeking help.

In response to the crisis, the Telangana Government mobilised choppers for rescue operations in the village. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) directed the Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to utilise helicopters to assist in relief efforts. Additionally, the Government sought the assistance of the Army to cope with the challenging conditions brought on by the relentless rains.

By afternoon, all the villagers in Moranchapalli were rescued and shifted to safer areas. 2 helicopters were involved in rescue operations. 6 fire department boats were also used to evacuatethe villagers. Six people who were trapped in floods, were rescued through helicopters.

Meanwhile, tourists faced perilous situations as well, with around 80 individuals stranded near Muthyaladhara waterfall in Mulugu district on Wednesday night. The overflowing streams made it impossible for them to cross, but the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and other personnel were deployed and the tourists were rescued safely.

The continuous rain and floods have affected several districts too, including, Warangal, Hanumakonda, Karimnagar, Jangaon, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Adilabad, which have all reported very heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. In contrast, Hyderabad received moderate rainfall, with the highest of 65.8 mm recorded in Serilingampally.

To address the crisis, the Director General of Police, Anjani Kumar, held a review meeting with SPs to assess the situation across the districts. The police have been placed on high alert, with special attention given to areas experiencing road damage and the shifting of families to rehabilitation centers.

The entire State administration is on high alert, with Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari monitoring the flood situation closely along with district collectors and police superintendents. The NDRF, SDRF, and Fire Service teams are prepared to undertake rescue and relief measures in case of any emergencies. In response to the relentless rains, KCR ordered the State Education Minister Smt Sabita Indra Reddy to declare a holiday for all educational institutions on Friday.

In light of the ongoing situation, a special control room has been established at the secretariat to monitor the flood situation, and citizens are encouraged to contact the provided helpline numbers in case of emergencies.