Minister orders high alert as heavy rains lash Telangana

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Anticipating widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across Telangana under the influence of a deep depression moving over Chhattisgarh and an active southwest monsoon, Revenue, Disaster Management, Housing, Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has directed officials to remain on high alert and take all precautionary measures to ensure public safety.

Chairing a teleconference with Revenue and Disaster Management officials on Thursday, the Minister reviewed the prevailing weather situation and preparedness measures in view of the intense rainfall recorded over the past two days and the forecast for the next 48 hours. He instructed district administrations to work in close coordination with all line departments and remain available in the field round the clock to respond to any emergency.

The Minister directed officials to continuously monitor vulnerable locations, including streams, rivulets, tanks and reservoirs, and to alert residents in low lying and flood prone areas. Where necessary, people should be shifted immediately to safer locations or rehabilitation centres to prevent any loss of life.

District Collectors were instructed to coordinate closely with the Police, Revenue, Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration, Electricity, Irrigation and Health departments to ensure timely rescue and relief operations wherever required.

Special attention has been directed towards Hyderabad, where continuous rains have affected normal life. The Minister instructed HYDRAA, GHMC and Traffic Police to work in coordination to prevent waterlogging, ease traffic congestion and ensure uninterrupted power supply and drinking water services.

Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy noted that Telangana's rainfall deficit, which stood at nearly 30 percent until four days ago, has been substantially bridged due to the recent spell of heavy rains, bringing rainfall close to normal levels.

Based on the India Meteorological Department's forecast for July 30 and 31, Red Alerts have been issued for Adilabad, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Jagtial districts, while Orange Alerts are in force for Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Mulugu districts. The Minister directed Collectors in these districts to remain fully prepared and take proactive measures to minimize disruption and safeguard lives and property.