Central Teams to Assess Rain Losses in Telangana

Hyderabad:An inter-ministerial team (IMT) of the Centre is likely to visit the state on September 9 to evaluate the damage caused by the recent rain and floods. The state government has directed district collectors to compile and submit comprehensive reports on the flood damage by the weekend, to be presented to the central team as part of its request for financial aid from the Centre.

According to preliminary estimates, the rain has caused ₹5,438 crore worth of damage to crops and property.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made an urgent appeal to the Centre on Monday, urging it to declare the Telangana floods a national calamity. In his appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Revanth Reddy requested the immediate release of ₹2,000 crore to support relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The Chief Minister has directed Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari to formally request the Prime Minister to visit the flood-affected areas of Telangana to assess the situation firsthand.

In preparation for the central team's visit, the Chief Secretary convened a high-level review meeting with senior officials and sought detailed reports on the loss of life and property. She also and requested detailed proposals on establishing a State Disaster Management Force (SDRF) in each district.