Kamareddy, Medak record heaviest rainfall in 50 years; IAF airlifts stranded villagers

Hyderabad: Telangana witnessed its worst deluge in decades as Kamareddy and Medak districts recorded the heaviest rainfall in 50 years, triggering flash floods, mass evacuations and large-scale damage to infrastructure.

Officials confirmed that thousands of people were rescued over the past 24 hours as disaster response teams worked round-the-clock to avert further tragedy.

Villagers stranded for 26 hours were rescued

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters rescued eight villagers stranded for over 26 hours near the Upper Maneru Project in Rajanna Sircilla.

The men, who had gone to graze cattle, were marooned by floodwaters. Essential supplies were first delivered by drones before the IAF carried out the airlift.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar coordinated with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the deployment of helicopters. He said two choppers would remain stationed in Sircilla for further emergencies.

Heaviest single-day rainfall in half a century

Around 44 cm of rainfall was recorded at Argonda station in Kamareddy’s Rajampet mandal, the highest in the state.

Nearly 23 locations across Kamareddy, Medak, Nirmal, Nizamabad, and Siddipet recorded over 20 cm of rainfall. Officials said this is the heaviest single-day rainfall in half a century.

500 people evacuated, casualties recorded

As many as 500 people were evacuated from six mandals in Kamareddy.

NDRF and SDRF teams rescued nine workers at Boggu Gudise and five others at Gunkal village. Army personnel from the TASA unit Hyderabad deployed in Medak to assist.

Casualties reported: One death in a wall collapse; two persons washed away in Domakonda while crossing a stream.

Transport and infrastructure collapse

Railways: Tracks at Rameshwarpally (Bhiknoor) and Shamnapur (Akkanpet–Ramayampet line) were washed away, forcing cancellation of train services.

Highways: The Hyderabad–Nagpur National Highway (NH44) caved in at three locations, leading to diversions.

Roads and Bridges: At least 85 stretches, including 47 roads, 23 causeways, and 15 bridges, have been rendered unusable.

Mass evacuations of students and families

Floodwaters swamped several educational institutions:

- 350 girl students from SC Degree College, Ramayampet, rescued.

- 80 hostel students from Ramayampet SC Girls' Hostel shifted to safety.

- 53 families from low-lying colonies in Medak were evacuated.

- 375 villagers from Sardhana moved to rehabilitation camps as a precautionary measure.

Government on high alert

State Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha visited submerged colonies in Medak and directed officials to ensure food, clothes and bed sheets at relief camps. Disaster teams continue to monitor vulnerable villages as tanks breached in 16 locations.

Tragedy amid relief

While rescue efforts continue, tragedy struck at Rajpet bridge, where two people were swept away in the swollen Gandari Vagu. Large tracts of farmland in both districts remain inundated, with officials beginning damage assessments.