Flood situation worsens in Telangana, 24 labourers rescued by IAF

Hyderabad: The flood situation deteriorated in Telangana on Sunday as water levels continued to rise in Godavari river following heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas and release of water from Maharashtra dams.

Several places across Telangana continued to receive heavy rainfall paralysing normal life.

People in low lying areas on the banks Godavari were been put on high alert and are being evacuated to safer places and relief camps are being opened.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday rescued 24 labourers who were caught in floods in Telangana's Medak district since Saturday.

According to reports, the rescue operation, which was aborted on Saturday evening due to heavy rains, resumed on Sunday morning.

Two Chetak helicopters which were pressed into service airlifted the labourers stranded in Manjeera river at Yedupayala.

The migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha were engaged in construction of three bridges in the area.

Rivers, rivulets and streams in the state are flowing at dangerous levels with water levels reaching their peaks.

To control flood situation in Godavari and Krishna rivers, the state irrigation authorities have released downstream huge quantities of water from the projects.

17 people have died so far in the floods, which CM K Chandrashekhar Rao described as ‘not as severe as was being projected, particularly when compared to Chennai’.

The Army pressed in 400 personnel for the rescue of flood victims in the city, mainly at Begumpet, Hakimpet, Nizampet and Alwal, on Saturday. The officers provided relief material and helped residents leave their houses with the help of ropes.

As there was light rainfall, water subsided in certain locations and there was no need for evacuation, the Army said. Six teams from the National Disaster Relief Management were called in to clear debris at Lingampally. The Indian Air Force has been put on standby to assist the civil administration at short notice.

Major Sajeev, who led the operations, said: “Old Alwal is still waterlogged and relief packages, including food, ration, medicines and blankets, were distributed to those affected. The Army has set up its own control room at GHMC head office and is coordinating with the GHMC control room to attend to complaints."

The Army has kept equipment such as boats, relief packages, medicines at central points for speedy distribution. The Telangana state government has approached the Indian Air Force to rescue 23 civilians who are stranded in Edupayala of Medak district.

Three Chetak helicopters were assigned the task. After two rescue attempts, the operation had to be put on hold due to heavy rain in the area.