The death toll in rain-related incidents in Telangana has gone up to 11, with eight deaths reported in Medak district and three others in Warangal, officials said.
Out of the total deaths, three were reported yesterday from Medak. Besides, four persons were killed in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. The three deaths in Warangal district were reported two days back.
Anjanayelu (30), a native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was last night going on his bike to his workplace. However, while trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, which was overflowing due to heavy inflow of water in Paspaleru lake, he got swept away along with his bike, police said.
Hathnoora Police Sub-Inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated, but the body was yet to be retrieved.
Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy had fallen in a swollen water tank in Aroor village under Sadasivpet police station limits after he lost balance while taking stock of the water level of the reservoir.
In Narayankhed, a 30-year-old man was washed away while he was trying to cross a stream on foot.
Besides, a 28-year-old man was killed after he lost balance of his two-wheeler and washed away while traversing through a water body near a village in Medak.
In Warangal, two of the victims, identified as Shabbir Ali, a village revenue officer from Raghunathapally and B Krishnaiah of Madanapeta village, were washed away by rapid floodwaters. The third person K Saraiah, a resident of Medapally village, was electrocuted amid rains, officials said.
With heavy rains lashing the state over the past few days, state Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today directed his ministerial colleagues to stay in their respective districts and monitor the flood situation and supervise relief and rehabilitation works.
In view of the flood situation, Rao cancelled the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow and asked the ministers to work in coordination with district-level officials and ensure evacuation of people from the low-lying areas to safer place.
Rao directed Warangal district administration to be on high alert as river Godavari is in full spate. He also asked the minister T Nageshwara Rao to maintain alertness in Khammam district as the water level in the river could reach danger level at Bhadrachalam in the district.
With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in
Hyderabad and parts of Telangana, Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief.
Following which, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue work, if necessary. Besides, four columns of Army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district.
Meanwhile, Indian Air Force (IAF) today successfully airlifted 23 construction workers, from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha who were trapped on an island in Medak district amid strong current of Manjeera river.
"Two Chetak helicopters of the IAF got airborne at 0709h today for carrying out rescue operations at flood hit Edupalaya village in Medak district. The operation lasted for more than an hour, wherein the Indian Air Force successfully airlifted 23 construction workers trapped on an island amidst strong currents and moved them to safer places," IAF said in a release here.
The helicopters landed back at 0851h after successful completion of the rescue despite inclement weather in the area. The operation was undertaken from Air Force Station Hakimpet in Hyderabad and was coordinated by Wg Cdr P Surendran, the Chief Operations Officer at Air Force Station Begumpet.
"IAF had been standing by for last two days and yesterday two attempts were made at rescuing the marooned workers, which did not fructify due to heavy rain and low clouds. However, with the persistent efforts of IAF, the mission was successfully accomplished today," it said.
IAF is further standby to undertake rescue operations in view of forecast of more rain in the next couple of days.
In Hyderabad, although there was no rain till evening, some of the low-lying areas continued to remain inundated, even as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and some NGOs offered essential food items, such as milk, for relief of those affected.
