`Gulab': Extremely heavy rainfall forecasted in Telangana parts; admin put on high alert

Issuing a red alert, IMD said extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) may occur at isolated places in Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sirsilla, Mahabubabad, Warangal (Rural), Kamareddy District.

IMD said very heavy rainfall (115.6 mm-204.4 mm) is likely to occur in, Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Warangal (Urban), Janagaon, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Siddipet, Sangareddy and Medak districts.

Heavy rainfall (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) is very likely to occur at few places in Khammam, Suryapet, Vikarabad, districts of Telangana. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (speed up to 30-40 Kmph) are very likely to occur at isolated places over Telangana.

Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar has directed District Collectors to keep close track of Gulab. Chief Secretary held a teleconference with the District Collectors from New Delhi and asked them to open special control rooms to monitor the flood situation.

Kumar directed the officials to work in coordination with police and other line departments. He told them to take necessary measures given the vulnerability of breaches in tanks. He asked them to take services of NDRF if necessary. He asked them to keep a vigil at places where people are likely to cross the streams. He also proposed to appoint special officers in every Mandal to avoid loss of life and property.

Meanwhile, the Director of Enforcement, Vigilance & Disaster Management, GHMC, said that rainfall may intensify into heavy and very heavy rainfall in the next 4-6 hours. He said incessant rainfall may continue for the next 48 hours in the city. All personnel and teams of GHMC have been put on high alert. Citizens are advised to avoid any unnecessary travel, he said.

GHMC zonal commissioners have been asked to ensure the availability of boats, pumps, and other necessary equipment & machinery to tackle flood emergencies based on last year's experiences.

"Preemptively ask all teams to check regular choke points and clear catch pits in those areas. Week offs and leaves of officers may be limited for the next one week to ensure sufficient personnel are available at all times. Prepare a relief and rehabilitation center for the event that citizens need to be shifted to and ensure availability of basic amenities in them," he said.

He also asked zonal commissioners to ensure the availability of a transport facility to evacuate and shift the population from possible inundation areas. "Prepare protocol for alerting the residents of possible inundation and low lying areas for evacuation at short notice," he said.