Warangal, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Khammam: Two persons were killed and another suspected dead in rain-related incidents, even as the water level began rising in the Munnuru stream in the worst-affected Khammam district on Sunday.
Fortyfour-year-old farmer Ponaganti Sulochana died after being struck by lightning while working in the fields in Shyamnagar of Bhupalpally mandal. Three others were injured in the same incident.
Santhale Jyothiram, 54, of Namdevwada, was was found dead in floodwater near Khanapur road of Nizamabad mandal. It is believed that the deceased might have stranded in the slush in an inebriated condition.
A report from Nizamabad said 24-year-old Feroz of Mumbai is suspected to have drowned in the Godavari downstream of the Sriramsagar project. He had gone on a picnic to the project along with his relatives who stay at Metpally of Jagtial district, and was washed away when water was released from the project. A search has been launched for Feroz.
Ten farmers had a narrow escape when floodwater swamped a rivulet that they were crossing in bullock carts, in Pendalwada of Jainad mandal on Saturday evening. The farmers were returning to their village after attending to agriculture work in the fields on the other side of the rivulet.
The farmers struggled through the water and reached the shore. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media. Farmers alleged that floodwater was discharged from the Sathnala irrigation project without prior information.
In Khammam district, authorities evacuated residents from low-lying areas to rehabilitation centres as the water level in the Munneru stream reached 15.5 feet, just below the first warning level. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka visited evacuation centres and assured residents that the state government was prepared to allocate necessary funds for relief efforts. Schools in Khammam town and Khammam rural mandal were declared closed, while classes in other mandals continued.
Police advisories urge commuters to use alternate routes due to road closures caused by overflowing lakes and streams. Authorities are enforcing safety measures to prevent further incidents as heavy rains continue to impact the region.
Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, which began on Saturday night, affected many parts of the united Warangal district, including Mahabubabad, Bhupalpally, and Jangaon. Several lakes and tanks in the Kesamudram, Guduru, Nellikuduru, Garla, Bayyaram, Kuruvi Devaruppala, and Palakurthy mandals were overflowing.
Floodwaters submerged roads, leading to the suspension of vehicular movement between Mahabubabad and Nellikuduru, as well as Mahabubabad-Guduru, Thorrur, and Kuruvi mandals.
Bayyaram mandal experienced severe conditions as gusty winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, causing power outages in several villages. In Jagna thanda and RTC Colony, residents faced severe difficulties as floodwaters entered their homes.
The Godavari saw a significant increase in water flow at the Telangana-Maharashtra border, with approximately 1 lakh cusecs of water flowing into the river from Maharashtra. The temple town of Basar witnessed a large influx of devotees who took a holy bath in the river. Sriramsagar project officials have lifted 24 gates, releasing 1.26 lakh cusecs of water downstream.
