Telangana floods: Bodies of 2 Singareni workers fished out; all dams filled to capacity

Floods have left a trail of death and destruction in Telangana. The bodies of two rescue workers, who had been washed away yesterday, were found today. Singareni workers were helping a pregnant woman from Kumarambheem Asifabad to reach the hospital when they got washed away. Their bodies were fished out today morning.

Most of the dams are filled to capacity. Outflows from dams on Godavari river continued on July 14. Bhadrachalam is currently flowing at 59.9 feet.

Authorities have closed the roads leading to the temple town as precautionary measures. Water has submerged farmland in many areas.

Flood waters have entered towns in Nirmal, Mancherial, Peddappali, Rajanna Sircilla, and Karimnagar.

The outflows from dams have been continuing throughout the night. Rains in Maharashtra too have led to inflow from the upper regions.

Date: 14-07-2022

Time: 11.00 AM

Godavari water level at Bhadrachalam:- 59.90ft

Discharge :- 17,92,301Cusecs

1st Warning Level:- 43.00 ft.

2nd Warning Level:- 48.00 ft

3 rd Warning Level:- 53.00 ft(In force)

People from villages have been evacuated and shifted to government and private schools. People in towns have been asked to not venture out.

People who stay in low-lying homes in towns have also been shifted as the flood waters continued to be high.

"It is an unusual and unprecedented rainfall. We have to wait for the rains to stop in TS and Maharashtra. All dams, ponds, and lakes are overflowing. The gates of the Kaleshwaram project have also been opened. People have been advised to stay home and not venture out," said Dande Vithal, MLC.

Water from dams will be released as the inflows have not stopped. Senior irrigation officials are looking at discharging for the next 36 hours. Till then people have to wait. Excess water is expected to go into the sea.

IMD Warning for Districts continues

MeT has forecasted heavy rains in Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Rajanna Sirsilla, Peddapally, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, Warangal (Rural and Urban) and Janagaon. The state is also going to witness strong wind movement of 40 to 50 kmph throughout the day.

Sunny day in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is to have light and moderate rains today and there will be a much-needed respite.

Rescue and evacuation

Around 19,071 people have been shifted to 223 special camps in Telangana. While 6,318 people have been shifted to 43 camps in Bhadrachalam, 4,049 have been shifted to 33 camps in Mulugu, and 1,226 have been placed in 20 camps in Bhupalpally. Sixteen people have been rescued by NDRF while two others were airlifted by the Indian Air Force.

Telangana chief secretary Somesh Kumar said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is monitoring the heavy rains in the state.

The chief secretary held a meeting at BRKR Bhavan on 14 July and took stock of the situation brought on by the incessant rains over the last few days. He also discussed the rising water levels in Godavari and its impact.

Mr. Kumar said special focus is now on Mulugu, Bhupalpally and Bhadrachalam districts. The low-lying areas have been identified and the situation is being continuously monitored on an hourly basis, he added.

Meanwhile, officials said the IMD has predicted light rainfall in nine districts, very light rains in another 10 districts, while the remaining districts will receive no rainfall. The situation in most of the districts is normal and no major incidents have been reported from any district. Seven NDRF teams have been deployed – three in Bhadrachalam and two each in Mulugu and Bhupalpally. Officials are monitoring the water overflows and inundation.

Cover pic credits: Pradeep Macharla