Telangana Seeks Rs 1,000 Crore Flood Relief from Centre

 Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Thursday said Telangana had had requested Rs 10,000 crore in flood relief from the Centre following incurred severe losses due to torrential rain and floods in August-September last year, but had so far received only Rs 300 crore.

Srinivas Reddy said a Central team had toured the flood-affected districts of Khammam, Warangal, and Nalgonda for three days in September last. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had submitted a detailed report to the visiting delegation, estimating the total damage at Rs 10,320 crore. He had also requested an immediate release of Rs 2,000 crore for urgent rehabilitation and relief.

On Thursday, Srinivas Reddy held a review meeting to assess the current rain and flood situation in Medak, Kamareddy, and Adilabad districts. He noted that these districts had recorded unprecedented rainfall in recent days, but swift government action had helped minimise casualties and property loss.

He said monitoring and relief efforts began on Wednesday afternoon. Rescue operations were in full swing, with drones being used to deliver food to stranded people.

Srinivas Reddy stated that the state government had released Rs 1 crore each to all districts a week ago and said that additional funds would be sanctioned for the severely affected areas. National highways, R&B, and Panchayat Raj roads blocked by floods had been cleared, and temporary restoration of damaged roads was being taken up on a war footing.

Several mandal and district headquarters had suffered infrastructure damage, and immediate restoration had been ordered. He said the revenue and police departments were working round the clock.

The minister also held a video conference with collectors of Medak, Kamareddy, Sircilla, and Nirmal to coordinate district-level measures.

NDRF and SDRF teams had been deployed across the state, and helicopters were on standby for emergency rescues. The Minister assured assistance for farmers and those whose houses had been damaged. He pointed out that some areas in Medak and Sangareddy had received 700 mm of rainfall in just one hour, causing reservoirs to overflow and embankments to breach.

He warned of potential disease outbreaks after the floods and directed the health department to initiate preventive measures. Responding to political criticism, Srinivas Reddy said the opposition should refrain from politicising a humanitarian crisis and instead offer constructive suggestions.