In Hyderabad, the IMD has issued an orange alert for light to moderate rain at times with heavy spells very likely for the next 24 hours.
Published Jul 21, 2023 | 4:02 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 21, 2023 | 4:39 PM
Tree branches fell after heavy rain in Hyderabad damaging car. (Supplied)
As rains continued to lash Telangana on Thursday causing waterlogging and traffic snarls at several localities in Hyderabad and inundating low-lying areas in some places in the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for four districts on Friday, 21 July, for the next 24 hours.
It said that heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rains (115.6-204.4 mm) with extremely heavy rains (more than 205 mm) were very likely to occur at isolated places in the Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, and Nizamabad districts of Telangana.
Issuing an orange alert for six districts, the IMD said that heavy to very heavy rain was very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sirsilla, Karimnagar, Peddapally, Kamareddy districts of Telangana.
It also issued a yellow alert for 12 districts, stating that rain was very likely to occur at isolated places in Nizamabad, Rajanna Sirsilla, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Siddipet, Medchal Malkajigiri, Sangareddy, Medak, and Kamareddy districts of Telangana.
In Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, the IMD issued an orange alert stating that light to moderate rain at times with heavy spells very likely to occur in the city for the next 24 hours.
The IMD in its weather inference said that a low-pressure area now lies over south Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Northwest & West Central Bay of Bengal with associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level.
It is expected to move slowly towards the West-Northwest across the Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next two days.
As per the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS) report, the state experienced an average rainfall of 47.1 mm in the last 24 hours, which is significantly higher than the normal average of 9.3 mm and is a deviation of 406 percent.
The highest recorded rainfall in the State was 220.2 mm in Ramadugu in the Karimnagar district.
Extremely Heavy Rainfall (>204.4 mm) was observed at isolated places in the Karimnagar district, while very heavy rainfall (115.6-204.4 mm) was reported at isolated places in the Adilabad, Nirmal, Jagtial, Karimnagar, Medak, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, and Mahabubnagar districts.
Heavy rainfall (64.5-115.5 mm) was recorded at isolated places all over the state except in the Khammam, Nalgonda, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, and Jogulamba Gadwal districts.
Additionally, moderate rainfall (15.6-64.4 mm) was reported at many places throughout the state.
Telangana’s average cumulative rainfall from 1 June to 21 July 2023 was 326.4 mm, considerably higher than the normal average of 273.9 mm, with a deviation of 19 percent.
The maximum temperatures in the state are expected to be in the range of 27° C to 30° C, while the minimum temperatures are predicted to be between 20° C and 23° C.
In the GHMC area, during the last 24 hours, the highest recorded rainfall was 93.5 mm in Serilingampally in the Rangareddy district.
The GHMC’s average cumulative rainfall from 1st June to 21 July was 289.9 mm, significantly higher than the normal average of 221.7 mm, with a deviation of 30.8 percent.
The maximum temperatures in the GHMC area are expected to be in the range of 23° C to 25° C, while the minimum temperatures are anticipated to be between 21° C and 23° C.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao directed Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari to declare a holiday for all educational institutions and government offices in the GHMC on Friday and Saturday, an official release said.
He asked the Labour Department to take steps to see that private companies in GHMC limits also announce holidays.
In the temple town of Bhadrachalam, the first flood warning was issued as the water level in the Godavari river reached 43 ft at 3.19 pm.
The third and final warning would be issued if the water level reached 53 ft.
In view of the rising water level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam, KCR directed that the government machinery — including the police — be on high alert.
The concerned departments should take immediate action, he said.
The chief minister also asked the officials to be prepared to carry out relief measures on a war footing and to shift people to safer places from the habitations which are likely to be flooded in Bhadrachalam, an official release said.
He directed Anudeep Durishetty, who is currently working as the collector of Hyderabad, to leave immediately for Bhadrachalam and supervise relief measures depending on the flood situation in the river.
Durishetty till recently worked as the district collector of the Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
The chief minister also directed that helicopters be made available to NDRF personnel for relief operations in the district.
According to the instructions of the chief minister, the authorities have made all necessary arrangements, including setting up control rooms and helicopters, for rescue and relief operations in Bhadrachalam, the release said. Rao asked the Chief Secretary to monitor the situation closely.
The state government is ready to face any situation, Rao said.
While the incessant rain caused traffic problems in Hyderabad, it led to the inundation of low-lying areas in some places in the state.
Rivulets and other water bodies were in spate in some districts in the state following the downpour during the last few days.
State Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, who held a meeting with officials of various departments, said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been stationed in Warangal, Mulugu and Kothagudem to attend to any emergency, an official release said.
A team comprising 40 members is also ready for deployment in Hyderabad.
Observing that no loss has been reported in the state so far, she said tanks and other water bodies and roads in rural roads have also not suffered any damage.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Mayor Vijaya Lakshmi R Gadwal said 426 monsoon emergency teams have been formed in the city.
Talking about measures to deal with the incessant rain, she urged the city residents to venture out of their homes only if necessary.
On Tuesday night, a man died in Warangal after a dilapidated house collapsed following a downpour.
