Heavy rains in Rangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad; CM Revanth puts collectors on alert

Hyderabad: Excess rainfall is recorded in Rangareddy, Nagarkurnool, parts of Vikarabad, Karimnagar and Narayanpet, with chief minister Revanth Reddy issuing orders to district collectors in Telangana to be on high alert.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy who is in Delhi for meetings regarding the Backward Classes bill and the caste census of Telangana, instructed the collectors to review the situation with all departments regularly.

High alert issued

Excess rainfall recorded in Ranga Reddy district areas: Madgul, Shabad, Balapur, Farooqnagar, Kondurg and other places. The other places recording high rainfall are Nagarkurnool, Kalwakurthy, Achampet, Amrabad, Lingal and other places.

* Excess rain is leading to flooding in low-lying areas.

* Special alert for families living near water bodies

The collectors were instructed to update the IMD forecast on rain to people and review the situation with all departments regularly. The chief minister spoke to the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) officials and enquired about the flood situation and the safety of people in low-lying areas.

The CM ordered all the departments to work in coordination without causing any inconvenience to the dwellers in the heavy rain hit areas and take appropriate relief measures.

CM Reddy instructed the authorities to alert people residing close to ponds and water bodies, which are brimming with floodwaters.

Organise rescue where needed

The officials were also ordered to take rescue operations in flood-hit locations in the GHMC limits. All precautions should be taken to avoid loss of property and life anywhere in the State.

The chief minister ordered that officials should be available in the districts to deal with any situation arising due to rains and floods, to provide all kinds of support during rescue and relief operations. The CM suggested that the higher authorities should be in touch with the collectors and review the situation constantly.

Minister Komati Venkat Reddy emphasized the critical need for constant monitoring and swift response to the challenging weather conditions. He directed Superintending Engineers (SEs) to stay at their district headquarters and continuously monitor Executive Engineers (EEs), Deputy Engineers (DEs), and Assistant Engineers (AEs) on the ground. They are mandated to review the situation in their respective areas every four to five hours. Furthermore, the Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) and Chief Engineers (CEs) in Hyderabad are tasked with monitoring the overall situation and providing regular updates to the minister.

Directives Issued:

Regular Inspections: Officials must conduct regular checks of culverts, bridges, and roads currently under construction. Bridges over overflowing streams and rivers require frequent inspection.

Immediate Road Restoration: Roads damaged by floods or erosion must be restored on a war footing to minimize disruption to public transport.

Inter-Departmental Coordination: R&B officials are to coordinate closely with the Electricity, Revenue, Irrigation, Police, and Panchayat Raj departments to address any field-level issues effectively.

Hazard Identification: The minister specifically highlighted the danger posed by electric poles and high-tension wires alongside roads due to strong winds and rain. Officials are to identify such hazards proactively and take precautions to prevent accidents.

Flood Monitoring: Officials must stay in touch with Irrigation department officials to assess flood levels, especially for roads along rivers, streams, and reservoir embankments that are vulnerable to unexpected heavy flows. They are also responsible for alerting commuters and ensuring unhindered traffic flow.

Public Awareness: In coordination with the police, officials should undertake measures to raise public awareness, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during the heavy rainfall.

Mandatory Field Presence: Minister Venkat Reddy emphatically stated that all R&B officials must remain in the field and should not take leave unless absolutely essential.

The minister underscored the government's commitment to restoring public transport immediately if roads are damaged by floods and urged the public to cooperate with the government machinery during this period.