CM Revanth requests aid from Centre, declare Telangana floods as national calamity; toll rises to 16

Hyderabad: As many as 16 people died and some are still missing as the depression that led to heavy rains in Telangana has caused severe floods in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad and Suryapet districts.

CM Revanth Reddy announced an immediate assistance of Rs 5 crores to the victims and their families in these districts. He has also urged Union government to declare floods in Telangana as a national calamity.

“The government will write a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi requesting him to visit flood-affected areas in the State and urged the government to declare floods in Telangana as a national calamity,” the CM said.

Telangana to submit report on damage

The Telangana State government will submit a comprehensive report on flood damage to the Union government. State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said that all details regarding the extent of damage in the districts are being collected for submission.

The four districts of Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad and Suryapet have suffered due to a breach in a canal, resulting in agricultural lands being submerged and extensive crop damage.

CM reviews the situation in Suryapet and Khammam

As much as 30 cm of heavy rainfall has created havoc in Suryapet district.

In the district review meeting, CM Revanth Reddy discussed the extent of crop and property damage caused by the opening of the left canal. The State government has asked all public representatives and officials to stay alert and help the residents as required.

The State government has announced that it will deploy the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) without looking towards the Centre for flood relief.

“We have invited prime minister Modi to inspect the damage. The initial estimate is that there has been a loss of Rs 5,000 crores in the State. However, the centre only wants to allocate Rs 2,000 crores immediately. I request Union ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to bring funds to the State. This is no time for politics,” the CM said.

Telangana Disaster Response Force

In the review meeting with the officials, CM Revanth Reddy ordered a Command Control Centre to be set up to handle emergencies.

The damage in the districts has led to a discussion regarding setting up a Telangana Disaster Response Force (TGDRF) to effectively deal with such calamities in the future.

The plan involves training eight police battalions on par with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to handle emergency services during heavy rains. District collectors have been told to set up call centres to provide relief to the rain-hit citizens.

Traffic and road repairs in Hyderabad

Police commissioners in Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda have been asked to address traffic problems during heavy rains. The municipal departments have been asked to take up road repairs of damaged roads, one of the major reasons for traffic jams in the city.

Compensation for affected families

An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs has been allotted for each of the kin of those killed in rain-related incidents. Compensation will also be given for the loss of cattle, goats and sheep dead due to the floods, said CM Revanth Reddy in the review meeting with government officials.

As much as Rs 50,000 will be provided to persons who have lost cattle in the calamity and Rs 10,000 per acre aid in case of crop damage. The CM has also promised to provide Indiramma housing to those who lost houses.