Heavy rains triggered flash floods across several parts of Telangana on Monday, inundating low-lying areas and causing extensive damage to roads and crops. Rivulets, streams, lakes, and ponds overflowed following incessant downpours under the influence of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.
With massive inflows from upstream, reservoirs were filled to the brim, forcing authorities to lift gates and release water downstream.
Since Sunday, heavy rains have battered the Medak district. Floodwaters from overflowing water bodies damaged roads at multiple locations, severely disrupting transport.
The famous Edupayala Durga Bhavani temple in Medak district was submerged after authorities released water from the Singur project following heavy inflows in the Manjeera River, a tributary of the Godavari.
Flash floods also caused widespread damage to standing crops across Medak, Sangareddy, and Siddipet districts.
According to Telangana Development Planning Society, Gouraram in Siddipet district recorded highest rainfall of 23.58 cm during the last 24 hours that ended at 5 A.M. on Monday. Mulugu in the same district saw rainfall of 18.63 cm. Islampur in Medak received 17.85 cm of rainfall.
As many as 32 places in Medak, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Kamareddy, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri and Nizamabad district received rainfall of above 11.50 cm.
Meanwhile, the water level in Godavari rose to 34.8 feet at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Heavy rains also disrupted coal production in state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) as flood water entered mines.
The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Monday. Red alert has been issued for Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad and Mulugu districts.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district while heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Hanumakonda, Kamareddy, Khammam, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Medak, Nirmal, Sangareddy, Suryapet, Vikarabad, and Warangal districts.
IMD said that thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are very likely to occur at isolated places in all districts of Telangana.
(IANS)