Telangana: Flood alert issued in three districts as Godavari River swells

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today directed officials of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts to be on alert in view of the threat of flooding due to swollen Godavari River.

Hyderabad, Sep 26: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today directed officials of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts to be on alert in view of the threat of flooding due to swollen Godavari River. He called for specific alert for the flood-prone Bhadrachalam in Khammam district and Ramannagudem in Warangal district, and told officials to be in touch with their Maharashtra counterparts to assess the flood situation and take steps accordingly, a release from Rao’s office said.

So far, 11 people have died in rain-related incidents in Telangana. While eight deaths were reported in Medak district, three were from Warangal. Rao, who visited Karimnagar district, conducted an aerial survey of Mid Manair Dam (MMD) and other rain-affected areas. He also held a review meeting with officials on the situation arising out of the heavy rains and flooding.

Over 1,000 people from six villages in Karimnagar district have been evacuated in the wake of flooding as heavy rains continue to lash Telangana for the last few days. Water from the under-construction MMD in Karimnagar started overflowing from the bund and the earthen embankment got breached, resulting in floods in the area.(ALSO READ: Monsoons 2016: Rains cause havoc in Hyderabad while Mumbai lakes, dams overflow with water)

The MMD faced trouble due to heavy inflow of water from upper Manair. The decade-long delay in carrying out construction work led to the flooding, Rao said and ordered cancellation of contract of agencies which delayed the works and to invite fresh tenders. Asserting that the bund of Mid Manair breached about 130 metres, officials said there would not be a major problem even if floods came henceforth. Rao directed the officials to be prepared for any eventuality in view of the heavy rains and floods and give utmost priority to saving humans and cattle.(ALSO READ: Hyderabad rains: Normal life disrupted, schools to be shut for two days)

The Chief Minister asked the administration to pay ex gratia to the family members of those who died in rain-related incidents and to those whose houses were damaged and said, the estimates on the damages would be prepared soon. The tanks restored under the ‘Mission Kakatiya’ programme of the state government are able to store more water now. Not even a single bund of the tanks revived under ‘Mission Kakatiya’ suffered breach, he said.