Telangana rains: Rising Godavari river remains a cause for concern even as the rain eases up

The roar the river is making and the speed at which it is flowing presents a frightening sight.

According to the Bhadradri Kothagudem District Collector Priyanka Ala, as many as 1,593 families have been evacuated to 22 relief centres where there is safe drinking water and power supply. “Quality food is being served to the victims,” the collector said.

Even as several parts of erstwhile Warangal began recovering from the cataclysmic effect of the rains, residents of Warangal city suffered a double whammy — the Bhadrakali lake breached on Saturday afternoon, flooding several parts of the city.

Officials tried to plug the breach and evacuated many people living in Pothana Nagar, Saraswathi Nagar, and Kapuwada to safer places.

Related: Amit Shah assures help for rescue operations in flood-hit areas

Life picking up after rains 

For the rest of the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has good news. It said that for the next four days, there will be only light to moderate rain or thundershowers in isolated places.

Though no official statistics are available, the toll due to the floods is at about 20, while there are several people still reported missing.

Vehicular traffic between Hyderabad and Vijayawada was restored on Saturday, with flood waters of the local rivulet Munneru — which overflowed the national highway at Itavaram near Nandigama in Andhra Pradesh — began receding.

For about 24 hours, the vehicles lined up one after the other, waiting for the swirling water to clear up. The TSRTC suspended bus services to Vijayawada for a day on Friday and restored them on Saturday.

The residents of Moranchapalli in Bhupalpally district are beginning to pick up the pieces of their lives after flood waters receded from their village. It was the worst-affected village in the district as water rose menacingly to shoulder height, washing away four people, household articles, and cattle on Thursday.

The residents, most of whom were rescued by helicopters and boats, returned to their village and were devastated to see what remained of their houses. The flood, in its wake, had left heaps of mud and slush.

The sanitary workers deployed by the government were seen removing carcasses of cattle that died in the floods.

As most of the villagers depend on dairy, they broke down after discovering that their cattle wealth had been washed away.

They sought help from the government to procure fresh cattle when Minister Satyavathi Rathod visited the village.

Also Read: Telangana rains: Flood-like situation in various districts

Mulugu legislator Seethakka visits

Of the politicians who visited the flood-affected areas, Mulugu Congress legislator Seethakka alias Danasari Anasuya stood out among others.

ములుగు జిల్లాలో వరద ప్రభావిత ప్రాంతాల్లో క్షేత్రస్థాయి పరిశీలన

జిల్లాలో యుద్ధ ప్రతి ప్రాతిపదికన పునరుద్ధరణ పనులు

లోతట్టు ప్రాంతాల్లో నివాసముట్టున్న ప్రజలను పరామర్శ

పస్రా నుండి ఏటూరు నాగారం వైపు వెళ్లే దారిలో ఉన్న గుండ్ల వాగు రోడ్డు పునరుద్ధరణ పనుల పరిశీలన.

జిల్లాలోని జాతీయ… pic.twitter.com/Nr6qgyENoN

— Satyavathi Rathod (@Satyavathi_BRS) July 29, 2023

The tribal leader, who is always with her people whenever there is any calamity — whether Covid-19 or floods — was seen reaching out to them, wading through knee-deep water in her constituency.

At one stage, she broke down watching the plight of the people of her Mulugu constituency and called the Chief Minister’s Office and ministers concerned repeatedly to send a helicopter to shift the stranded residents, but her appeals for help went unheard.

She became a celebrity on social media for not caring about what would happen to her while trying to reach out to her constituents.

Also Read: Telangana: Red alert issued for 4 districts as state sees 1 death

State government takes stock

For the past few days Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has been monitoring the situation, giving instructions to people to rush to the areas where help was needed. It was the chief minister who ordered a helicopter and boats to Moranchapalli in Bhupalpally.

Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao, taking stock of the situation on Saturday, asked officials over teleconference to take steps to prevent water-borne diseases that are likely to break out after the rains.

He also asked the officials to ensure safe drinking water, sanitation management, and the restoration of highways and other arterial roads.

రాష్ట్రవ్యాప్తంగా వర్ష ప్రభావిత పట్టణాల్లో ఉన్న పరిస్థితులపైన పురపాలక శాఖ అధికారులు, అడిషనల్ కలెక్టర్లతో మంత్రి కేటీఆర్ టెలి కాన్ఫరెన్స్ నిర్వహించారు. ప్రాణ నష్టం జరగకుండా చూడడమే ప్రాథమిక ప్రాధాన్యతగా పని చేయాలని, లోతట్టు ప్రాంతాల్లో ఉన్న పరిస్థితులపైన అప్రమత్తంగా ఉండాలని మంత్రి… pic.twitter.com/mQY6LiaM44

— BRS Party (@BRSparty) July 27, 2023

The Minister asked them to take relief measures as a challenge and work with commitment. He said that the state government was prepared to provide any form of assistance in this regard. Recalling that leave for all staff was cancelled, he directed the officials to coordinate with other departments for the relief works

Taking note that water bodies in cities and towns were full, KTR instructed the officials to monitor them regularly. If necessary, they have to be emptied according to the guidelines, after consulting Irrigation department officials, he instructed.

He asked them to shift people from the low-lying areas. Control rooms have to be set up in all districts, including Hyderabad, to coordinate the relief works.

Also Read: Telangana, Andhra among 22 states to get SDRF funds 

The minister issued directions to ensure that towns and highways are cleared of the accumulated mud. He emphasised that roads in towns should be made motorable and that necessary temporary repairs should be undertaken. He emphasised the need for spraying bleaching powder, sodium hypochlorite, and mosquito repellents everywhere.

Additionally, he mentioned the use of dewatering pumps to drain accumulated water. KTR instructed the officials to collaborate with Mission Bhagiratha officials and fix leaks in pipelines and ensure the chlorination of drinking water.