Godavari in spate, reservoirs receive huge inflows. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao declared two-day holidays for educational institutions, government and private offices within GHMC limits until Saturday.
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad on Thursday, July 20, was in total chaos after four days of practically non-stop rainswith scenes of water logging, a report in the Deccan Chronicle, says.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao declared two-day holidays for educational institutions, government and private offices within GHMC limits until Saturday. He directed the labour department to ensure closure of private offices, while maintaining emergency and essential services, such as medicines, milk, vegetables and other essentials, without disruption.
Rao also directed Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari to take emergency measures in heavy rain-hit areas.
The government machinery, including the police department, has been put on high alert, with the Chief Minister directing officials to carry out relief measures on a war footing and shift people from low-lying, flood-prone areas.
The water level of Godavari at Bhadrachalam increased rapidly, crossing the first warning level of 43 feet at 3.19 pm on Thursday. By 4 pm, it rose to 43.30 feet, following which 9,46,412 cusecs of water were discharged.Officials said that they expect the water level to cross the second warning level, at 48 feet, in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.
The Godavari continued to be at spate all along its course from Basar in Nirmal district to Bhadrachalam in Kothagudem district, following widespread rains in its catchment areas for the third day in a row.
Following the forecast of heavy rains for the next two days, officials operationalised flood control rooms in Bhadrachalam and Kothagudem, deploying NDRF teams on standby for immediate deployment.
Everywhere in Hyderabad, there were scenes of water-logging, flooded roads,, severe itraffic jams, , submerged underpasses, potholes and Incidents of houses collapses. But there were no reports of casualties were reported.
The city’s IT corridor which was badly hit by the traffic jams on Wednesday night, and its extensions continued to remain in a gridlock.
Traffic police and personnel from other wings and civic wings were seen stationed at some of these locations, clearing water logging, regulating traffic, but their efforts proved to be of little help to the commuters.
In the past 24 hours, Telangana state recorded an average rainfall of 34.5 mm, against normal rainfall of 7 mm, with a deviation of 393 per cent.The highest rainfall, 199.5 mm, was recorded in Bejjur of Asifabad district.
Several residential colonies were inundated, including roads in front of the Secretariat and the Martyr’s memorial. The situation was equally bad in Somajiguda, Panjagutta, Nampally, Bowenpally, Habsiguda, Tarnaka, Dilsukhnagar, Nagole. Ramanthapur, Malakpet and also Manikonda, Raidurgam, Madhapur and several other parts of the city.
There were reports of uprooted trees from Padmarao Nagar, Marredpally, Trimulgherry, MLA colony Banjara Hills, and Rajendranagar. However, traffic police along with DRF teams have managed to clear the roads, restoring traffic flow.
An awareness video of Gaddam Mallesh, an SI with the Hyderabad police, explaining the precautions to be taken during rains, went viral on social media platforms. Sharing the video on Twitter CP C.V. Anand tweeted, “Since it’s #raining continuously, please listen to @hydcitypolice staff on duty and be careful.”
Rachakonda police advised people to stay away from electric poles, hoardings. “Citizens are alerted not to go near electric poles, trees, hoardings, temporary or very old constructions,” Rachakonda commissioner of police D.S. Chauhan tweeted.
Several colonies in Tolichowki, and Macha Bolaram were inundated due to the ongoing rains. A nala at Venkateswara Colony in Manikonda connecting the Musi was flowing above the road level, making it difficult for residents to commute.
With the traffic thrown out of gear, Cyberabad police mobilised its entire force for the traffic management. ” Cyberabad Traffic Police taking all possible measures to avoid inconvenience to the commuters. Please stay indoors and avoid travel to extent possible.” tweeted Cyberabad traffic police.
Traffic blocks continued to choke the entire IT corridor, Jubilee Hills, Mehdipatnam, Masab Tank, Lakdikapul, Banjara Hills, Panjagutta, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Tarnaka upto Uppal.
Traffic police and personnel from other departments were stationed at some of these locations, clearing water logging, regulating traffic, but their efforts proved to be of little help to the commuters.
Cab operators were charging exorbitant fares due to the rains. Users also complained of drivers abruptly cancelling rides and demanding payment only in cash on Wednesday and Thursday.
In the past 24 hours, Telangana state recorded an average rainfall of 34.5 mm, against normal rainfall of 7 mm, with a deviation of 393 per cent.The highest rainfall, 199.5 mm, was recorded in Bejjur of Asifabad district.
Low Pressure in Bay, Yellow Warning for AP Coast
Visakhapatnam: The authorities have issued a yellow alert for the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. A low pressure area has formed over northwest Bay of Bengal, and the adjoining Odisha coast, according to IMD sources..
The associated cyclonic circulation extended upto 7.6km and likely to move west-northwestwards across the Odisha coast during the next two to three days.Under its influence, heavy rains are likely in several parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
An IMD bulletin said heavy rainfall was very likely to occur at isolated places over the ASR district, Eluru, and north coastal Andhra Pradesh from Saturday.
On July 23 to the morning of July 24, heavy rainfall was very likely at isolated places over ASR, Parvatipuram Manyam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu and Bapatla.
During the last 24 hours, Chintur (ASR district) received the highest rainfall of 10cm, Kunavaram (ASR) 9cm, Kukunoor (Eluru) 8cm, Palasa ( Srikakulam) 5cm, Koyyalagudem (Eluru) 4cm, Chintalpudi (Eluru) 4cm, V Ramachandrapur (ASR) 3cm and Polavaram (Eluru) 3cm.
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