16 Dead In Rain-Related Incidents In Telangana, Relief Ops Resume After Rain Subsides

Relief work gained momentum after at least 16 people lost their lives in different rain-related incidents after the heavy downpour that lashed Telangana.

Relief work gained momentum on Saturday after at least 16 people lost their lives in different rain-related incidents following the heavy downpour that lashed Telangana over the past one week, said officials. The rainfall stopped today in several parts of the state. A senior official said that all these people lost their lives in rain-related incidents till Saturday afternoon. Heavy rain over the past week caused inundation of many low-lying regions and damaged agricultural fields at several locations in the state. Even now, the problem of waterlogging continues in many parts of Warangal despite rainfall starting to subside since Friday, reported news agency PTI.

Under the plans for relief work, the state government has set up relief camps and increased rescue and rehabilitation work in rain-affected regions. Meanwhile, the Bhadrakali tank in Warangal also suffered a breach and efforts were on to fix it.

People, who returned to their homes in the town on Saturday after taking shelter in safer places during the last few days due to flooding, were saddened by the destruction of household items and the presence of sludge inside the houses.

Notably, the water level in the Godavari river in the temple town of Bhadrachalam stood at 55.40 ft at 4 PM on Saturday and the third and final warning was in force (the third warning level is 53 ft).

People residing in vulnerable regions have been evacuated and shifted to relief camps in the district. In addition to these, many agricultural fields in several districts have suffered damage due to heavy rains and flooding.

State Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao conducted a teleconference on relief works following the heavy rains. He also discussed several measures to prevent waterborne diseases, provision of safe drinking water, sanitation management, and the rehabilitation of highways and other arterial roads to ensure they are motorable again, reported PTI.

Rao further asked the officials to take relief measures as a challenge in the prevailing situation and ordered them to move ahead with greater commitment, said an official release.

The minister also said the state government is prepared to provide any form of assistance to people. Over the next few days, Telangana will receive heavy rain at isolated places in the districts including Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad and others on August 1.