State Govt Asks Officials to Take Flood Relief Measures

Hyderabad: The state government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore for each of the 33 districts in Telangana for implementing emergency flood relief measures in the wake of heavy rains lashing the state. Revenue and disaster management minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced the decision during a video conference with district collectors on Thursday, in which the current weather situation was reviewed along with Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao.

The minister directed district collectors, SPs, and police commissioners to remain on high alert over the next 24 hours, especially as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rains for the next two to three days. He instructed officials to take all precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and property and said the government was ready to release additional funds if required.

Collectors from districts that recorded over 10 cm of rainfall in the last 24 hours — including Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mancherial, Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Asifabad, Peddapalli, and Karimnagar — were asked to closely monitor the situation.

Special attention was directed toward districts under red alert in the next 24 hours, such as Medak, Sangareddy, and Vikarabad. Senior officials have been appointed as special officers for the erstwhile ten districts to oversee relief operations.

The minister instructed all officials and staff currently on leave to report back immediately and remain vigilant. Directions were issued to implement evacuation and rescue measures in low-lying and flood-prone areas. In Greater Hyderabad, municipal, metro water supply, and traffic departments were told to work in coordination to ensure public safety and smooth functioning.

Particular focus was placed on railway lines, low-level bridges, causeways, and flood-prone zones, with orders to deploy police personnel at low-level bridges to prevent accidents.

The minister also stressed the need for preventive health measures to curb the spread of water-borne diseases and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water.

He advised collectors to explore permanent solutions for areas vulnerable to backwater flooding, suggesting the relocation of affected residents and the construction of Indiramma houses for them. Traffic management was also emphasized, particularly in Hyderabad and district headquarters, to avoid congestion during peak rainfall hours.

Ponguleti stated that the state government is ready to provide additional resources as required. He stressed the need for coordinated action between departments to mitigate the impact of the heavy rains across the state.