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Rain-battered Telangana braces for more downpour

Adilabad badly hit, Roads and Bridges officials confirmed widespread damage across the state.

Saicharan Sana

Published Aug 16, 2025 | 8:58 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 16, 2025 | 8:58 PM

The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy showers in Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Vikarabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Khammam. Already, 15 districts have reported heavy rainfall, with Jagtial, once in deficit, now receiving significant showers.

The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy showers in Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Vikarabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Khammam. Already, 15 districts have reported heavy rainfall, with Jagtial, once in deficit, now receiving significant showers.

Synopsis: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed all departments to coordinate, release funds for district-level relief, and deploy disaster response teams to badly-hit areas. With reservoirs receiving heavy inflows, damaged roads disrupting connectivity, and schools and homes submerged in low-lying regions, the administration is monitoring the situation closely.

Telangana continued to grapple with the impact of relentless rains on Saturday, 16 August, as districts across the state reported flooding, damage to infrastructure, and emergency evacuations.

The downpour was particularly severe in Adilabad, where families were rescued from rising waters and students shifted from inundated schools. Elsewhere, the heavy inflows into reservoirs in Nirmal district raised fresh concerns, with a youth reportedly swept away near the Kadem project.

Roads and Bridges officials confirmed widespread damage across the state, even as repair and restoration works were taken up on priority.

While Hyderabad saw some respite, authorities used the opportunity to inspect vulnerable sites and carry out repairs, with traffic advisories issued in parts of the city. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further rain in several northern and eastern districts, keeping officials on high alert.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed all departments to coordinate, release funds for district-level relief and deploy disaster response teams to hard-hit areas. With reservoirs receiving heavy inflows, damaged roads disrupting connectivity, and schools and homes submerged in low-lying regions, the administration is closely monitoring the situation.

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School students evacuated

Adilabad was badly hit, with severe flooding reported from across the district. From District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) personnel evacuating trapped families to a local MLA evacuating a school, the district bore witness to a concerning downpour.

The administration moved swiftly to respond to the impact of heavy rains that lashed the region. District Collector Rajarshi Shah, along with Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan, visited affected sites and closely monitored rescue and relief operations.

A major incident was reported in Seethagondi village of Gudihatnoor mandal, where six members of the Gaikwad Ganesh family were trapped in their house after rising waters cut off access. Acting promptly, DDRF teams, under the supervision of the Collector and SP, rescued the family safely and shifted them to Adilabad town.

The administration also inspected the Welfare Residential Junior College in Ichoda, which had been inundated, leading to students being moved to safer locations. Officials assured that all necessary measures were being taken to minimise risks and ensure safety across rain-affected mandals.

BRS Boath MLA Anil Jadhav later visited the affected areas, including Ichoda, where several tribal schools and houses had been flooded. He met families, assuring them that the party and local leadership would stand by them in this difficult time. Jadhav emphasised that there was no need for panic, promising continued support and timely assistance.

Alongside inspections, he toured multiple mandals to assess the extent of damage caused by the downpour. His visits were aimed at instilling confidence among the public and ensuring that relief efforts reach all those in need. The combined efforts of officials and local representatives underscored the priority of safety and reassurance amidst ongoing heavy rainfall.

Youth washed away in Kadem

Floodwaters surged at the Kadem project in Nirmal district after authorities lifted 17 gates to release excess inflows downstream.

Amid the heavy discharge, a youth reportedly identified as Tippireddy Gangadhar from Kannapur village in Kadem mandal was swept away, prompting NDRF teams to launch rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, District Collector Abhilash Abhinav inspected the Swarna Project in Sarangapur mandal to review inflow and outflow levels. With continuous rains lashing Telangana and Maharashtra, reservoirs, including Swarna, Kadem, and Gaddenavagu, are receiving heavy inflows, forcing officials to maintain high alert.

The Collector directed engineers to monitor water levels closely and urged shepherds, fishermen, and residents in low-lying areas to avoid venturing near rivers or reservoirs. Farmers were also advised to remain cautious.

Telangana’s Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has instructed officials to stay on high alert as the state braces for more rain following fresh warnings from the Meteorological Department.

At a review meeting with Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj and senior engineers, the minister took stock of the extensive damage caused to roads, culverts, and bridges by recent heavy downpours and flooding.

Reports suggested that 629 kilometres of road network have been affected, with damage recorded at 454 locations. 22 stretches were washed away, of which four have already been restored, while out of 108 critical blocks, 71 have been cleared.

The minister stressed that engineers must carry out constant field inspections of culverts, low-level bridges, and causeways until the weather situation stabilises. He underlined the importance of issuing timely public alerts to prevent accidents and asked officials to work in close coordination with the Police, Electricity, Revenue, Irrigation, and Panchayat Raj departments for quick response measures.

Temporary restoration of damaged stretches, he said, must be taken up immediately to ensure public transport is not disrupted. Venkat Reddy also directed engineers to remain at the district headquarters, cancel leave for the next two days, and keep him updated on ground-level developments.

Related: Heavy rains lash Telangana

Chief Minister orders statewide preparedness

In the meantime, the state’s capital city was less battered in comparison to the previous days. Authorities have taken the opportunity to inspect affected sites and conduct repairs on some routes. While HYDRAA has taken to the Outer Ring Road to inspect the flooding of NH44, the Hyderabad Traffic Police issued an advisory for ongoing stormwater drain works at the Lakdikapul Junction.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government has gone on high alert as heavy rains continue to lash the state. The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy showers in Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Vikarabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Khammam. Already, 15 districts have reported heavy rainfall, with Jagtial, once in deficit, now receiving significant showers.

The Chief Minister has urged all departments to work in full coordination to ensure public safety. To support relief efforts, the government has released ₹1 crore to each district. SDRF and NDRF teams have also been deployed in vulnerable areas to assist district collectors with evacuations and rescue measures.

The Chief Minister directed officials to keep a close watch on reservoirs and ponds, prepare sandbags, and restrict traffic on flooded bridges and causeways. Sanitation staff have been instructed to remain active to prevent mosquito breeding, while the health department has been asked to stock medicines and set up medical camps.

(Edited by Majnu Babu).

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