Khammam: Munneru River floods after 30 years; locals blame encroachments; over 100 villages submerged

Hyderabad: The Munneru River has surged again after 30 years, causing severe flooding in Khammam district and leaving numerous families stranded. The floodwaters, which reached up to 10 feet in some areas, have inundated homes, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops.

In Karnagiri, Khammam Rural mandal, families were trapped on the roof of their houses early Sunday morning.

Similarly, in Bokkalagadda, residents trapped in floodwaters appealed directly to agriculture minister Thummala Nageswara Rao for rescue.

One woman reported that the floodwaters had severely damaged their house, raising fears of its imminent collapse.

This dire situation extended beyond just a few families. Residents from 25 colonies near the Munneru River are facing extreme distress after water surrounded their homes, leaving them stranded and appealing to the government for urgent relief and relocation to safer areas.

Locals blame encroachments

Some locals have attributed the severity of the current flooding to unauthorised constructions near the Munneru River. “It’s been 30 years since we last saw such a disaster in this city. Unchecked encroachments near the river might be a significant factor in this calamity,” said a resident.

As a precautionary measure, officials cut off the power supply in the affected areas on Sunday night, plunging 25 colonies into darkness.

While some residents evacuated their homes during the day, many remained trapped inside, surrounded by floodwaters.

119 persons stranded on hillocks in Khammam

The floods, triggered by heavy rainfall across Telangana, have led to widespread disruption.

Over 100 villages have been submerged and 99 trains were cancelled due to the severe weather.

In response, chief minister A Revanth Reddy convened emergency meetings to assess the situation and coordinate rescue efforts.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar reported that 119 people were stranded on hillocks and buildings in Khammam district alone.

“I have informed Union home minister Amit Shah about the severe situation in Telangana’s Khammam district, where 110 villages have been submerged,” Bandi Sanjay posted on X.

Rescue operations underway

Nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), sourced from Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Assam, have been deployed across Telangana to assist with the rescue operations.

Irfan Aziz, president of the All India Professionals Congress (AIPC) Telangana Chapter, commented on the situation, stating, “The flood situation is worsening in Khammam, Warangal, Suryapet and Kodada. Highways and roads have been closed and choppers are being used to lift people from the affected areas. Trains are stopped at Kazipet and Mahabubabad stations, where passengers are receiving food and medical assistance.”

Efforts on to find missing persons

The floods have claimed at least 16 lives, with some victims being swept away while attempting to cross swollen streams. Among the victims were Yakub and Saidabee, a couple working at a pre-cast cement bricks factory in Nayakangudem village, Khammam district. Their son Sharif managed to swim to safety, aided by a life jacket dropped from a drone deployed by the police.

In another tragic incident, a father and daughter, Nunawat Motilal and Nunawat Ashwini, were washed away when their car was overpowered by floodwaters in Khammam district. Efforts are also ongoing to locate the two family members feared to have been swept away after their house wall collapsed in Kusumanchi mandal.

Train tracks washed away in Mahabubabad district

The flooding has also caused significant disruption to train services.

The South Central Railway has cancelled 99 trains due to waterlogging on the tracks, with five trains stranded between Kazipet and Vijayawada. Passengers on these trains were evacuated and provided with food and other necessities.

A small stretch of railway tracks was washed away by floodwaters on the outskirts of Thallapusapally in Mahabubabad district, halting train movement on the Khammam-Warangal route.

Red alerts in 9 districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for parts of Telangana, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rain in districts like Adilabad and Mahabubnagar. The government has issued flash flood risk warnings for 19 districts, with red alerts in nine districts and orange alerts in 12 others.

K Nagarathna, head of IMD Hyderabad, explained that the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to move west or northwest, further exacerbating the flooding situation.

The situation remains critical, with rescue operations continuing as authorities work to bring relief to the flood-affected areas.