Heavy rains cause major destruction in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, 99 trains cancelled | News from India

Heavy rains continue to rage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, causing severe flooding, tragic loss of life and widespread disruption. Both states are reeling from incessant downpours, leading to swollen rivers and widespread flooding, including in major cities like Hyderabad and Vijayawada.

Emergency meetings and rescue measures

In response to the escalating crisis, the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, have called emergency meetings to assess the situation and coordinate ongoing rescue efforts. The situation in Khammam district of Telangana is particularly dire, with 110 villages submerged by the floods and many residents stranded on hills and rooftops awaiting rescue.

IMD issues red warnings

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts in Telangana, including Adilabad and Mahabubnagar, and forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days.
As a precautionary measure, the Telangana State Government has declared all primary and secondary schools in Hyderabad as a holiday on Monday, September 2, to ensure the safety of children.

Disruptions in rail traffic

The rain has severely affected rail traffic. 99 trains have been cancelled, four trains partially cancelled and 54 others diverted. Five trains are stuck on the Kazipet-Vijayawada route due to flooding and broken tracks.

Rescue operations and NDRF deployment

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar reported that 119 people were stranded on hills and in buildings in Khammam district. In a social media post, he informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the critical situation and the need for urgent intervention. In response, nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to Telangana to assist in the rescue efforts. These teams from Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Assam are actively working on the ground to evacuate the people trapped by the floods.