Prediciting heavy torrential downpour coupled with thunderstorms and lightning in Telangana, the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert on Thursday.
According to the IMD's bulletin, several districts in the state, particularly in North Telangana, have been experiencing continuous downpour since last night.
Rainfall ranging from 30 to 40 cm has been recorded in these districts, as per the release.
In light of the current situation in the state, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has directed Education Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy to announce holidays to all educational institutions on Friday.
So far, the aggravating flood-like situation in the southern state has claimed eight lives since July 22.
Heavy downpour has inundated seceral low-lying areas on Thursday as well leading to damage of roads and agricultural crops.
The state has been witnessing rainfall over the last week and the downpour has been heavy to very heavy during the past few days, paralysing normal life at several places.
In its daily weather report for Telangana (at 8.30 am on July 27), the Met Centre said exceptional heavy rainfall occurred at several places in Hanumakonda and at a few places in Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts and at isolated places in Jangaon, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Karimnagar, and Warangal districts of Telangana.
How the state government is responding?
After taking a stock of the situation on Thursday, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao alerted ministers, public representatives and officials about relief measures and to prevent loss of life, according to a CMO release.
According to the Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari, 10,696 people from 108 villages have been shifted to safer places in the state.
Yesterday, Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a rescue operation of six people stranded atop an earthmoving and construction equipment machine in flood-stricken Nainpaka village in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district.
According to an official release, 600 people from Morampalli village of Bhupalpally district and 19 workers stranded in a sand quarry near Gopalpur of Manthani in Peddapalli district were also rescued and shifted to safer locations.
The Chief Secretary held a teleconference meeting with the Collectors and took stock of the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken in the districts hit by heavy rain and floods, as well as pre-cautionary measures in accordance with the directions of the Chief Minister.
It has also been told that a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is being sent immediately to Khammam town and a helicopter to Burugampahad as per the orders given by the Chief Minister for rescue and relief operations.
Four more helicopters and 10 NDRF teams have been requested to be sent and additional teams are expected soon, she added.
Meanwhile, Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said he spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the prevailing flood situation in Telangana.
"Hon'ble HM has promised all possible help in the rescue and relief works for safe guarding the people of Telangana during this situation. Presently 2 helicopters are in service. 5 NDRF teams are also deployed for the rescue and relief works. Rescue mission for the stranded people underway," Reddy said in a tweet.
