Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people due to rain-related incidents. The severe downpour has led to rivers swelling, inundating several areas and severely disrupting both road and rail traffic. Thousands of residents have been evacuated to relief camps as both state and national disaster response forces mobilize for relief operations.
In Telangana, nine people have died from rain-linked incidents. The state’s flood-hit regions, including Suryapet, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahbubabad, and Khammam, have seen extensive evacuations, with local administrations moving residents from vulnerable villages to safety. Heavy rain also caused significant waterlogging in Hyderabad, leading to school closures. The situation remains precarious, with a red alert issued for various districts, predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days.
Andhra Pradesh has similarly suffered, with cities like Vijayawada and Guntur completely marooned by floodwaters. The Vijayawada-Guntur national highway and the Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway have been submerged, and significant rainfall has damaged agricultural and horticultural fields. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reported that floodwaters, which were meant to be diverted to Kolleru Lake, are instead moving towards Vijayawada. The state has set up 107 relief camps, evacuating 17,000 people.
In response to the crisis, the Central government has deployed 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to assist with flood relief and rescue operations. The South Central Railway zone has cancelled 140 trains and diverted 97 due to the flooding. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured full support to the affected states, pledging all possible assistance from the central government.