Floods Damage 1,000 KM Roads In Telangana

Hyderabad:Heavy rain over the past three days have left a trail of destruction across Telangana, damaging road infrastructure maintained by both the roads and buildings (R&B) and panchayat raj departments.

Officials reported that 1,039-km R&B roads were damaged, with 31 stretches completely cut off. Temporary restoration was carried out on 10 roads. The department pegged the losses at Rs 1,157 crore, with another Rs 53.76 crore required immediately for temporary repairs.

Engineers across 37 divisions identified 794 vulnerable points, while 356 culverts and causeways were submerged. Diversions were arranged at 289 locations, and of the 305 road stretches blocked by floodwaters, traffic has been restored on 236.

A total of 206 culverts, causeways and minor bridges have suffered structural damage. To coordinate repairs and monitor the evolving situation, a round-the-clock Control Centre has been set up at the R&B head office in Hyderabad, staffed by four officers per shift.

R&B minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Friday reviewed the situation through a teleconference with divisional engineers, directing them to expedite restoration works in Medak, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Rajanna-Sircilla and Nirmal districts, where widespread damage was reported. Severe disruption occurred along NH-44 near Kamareddy and Nirmal, where floodwaters halted traffic.

He instructed engineers to install warning signboards at dangerous stretches, culverts and washed-out roads, while cautioning them to remain on the ground and coordinate with the police, irrigation, panchayat raj, revenue and electricity departments. He urged officials to submit proposals for permanent reconstruction of damaged stretches.

Rural areas too have also suffered extensively. Panchayat raj and rural development minister Danasari Anusuya (Seethakka) held a teleconference with PR officials on Friday to assess damages.

Engineer-in-Chief N. Ashok informed her that 1,291 rural roads and culverts were damaged, incurring losses of `352 crore. Temporary repairs alone would require `22.71 crore. Vehicular connectivity to 22 villages was snapped, though PR staff managed to restore access to 14 villages by laying makeshift roads. Efforts are ongoing to reconnect the remaining habitations.

Seethakka has been stationed at Kamareddy since August 27, personally monitoring the situation. She toured several affected villages, interacted with residents and supervised the evacuation of families to safer locations and temporary shelters. Stressing that restoring connectivity to cut-off habitations must be given priority, she directed officials to focus on the worst-hit villages.

Officials of both departments admitted that the heavy rainfall between August 26 and 28 in Kamareddy, Medak, Rajanna-Sircilla, Nirmal, Nizamabad and old Warangal districts had inflicted unprecedented losses.