Woman Swept Away In Floodwaters As Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc In Mulugu
Floodwaters inundated agricultural fields, causing big crop damage: Reports
WARANGAL: Heavy rains from Sunday evening caused widespread flooding in Mulugu district, disrupting transportation and leading to the loss of life. Several streams, canals, and lakes overflowed, submerging roads and uprooting trees and electricity poles.
In Kalvapalli village of Tadvai mandal, a 52-year-old woman, Sagalam Gouramma, was swept away by floodwaters in the Thummala stream late Sunday night when she went outside to relieve herself. Her family members did not see her leaving, and she was carried away by the strong current. Her body was recovered on Monday morning.
Floodwaters inundated agricultural fields, causing big crop damage. Mangapeta and Eturnagaram mandals were the worst affected, recording 19 cm of rainfall. In Mangapet, farmlands, residential colonies, and shops were submerged.
Local streams turned fierce, with Yerra Vagu in Kamalapuram overflowing and flooding low-lying houses up to waist level, while also disrupting traffic on the Eturnagaram main road. The Godavari River at Ramannagudem Pushkar Ghat in Eturnagaram mandal rose to 13,340 meters, prompting officials to warn residents of increased inflows from upstream barrages.
Similarly, the Jampanna Vagu in Medaram flooded nearby farmlands and halted traffic. Locals urged devotees to postpone visits to the Sammakka-Saralamma temple due to unsafe conditions.
In response, district collector T.S. Divakar declared an emergency holiday for all schools on Monday, instructing that the second Saturday of September be observed as a working day to compensate.
Panchayat raj minister Seethakka directed the collectors of Mulugu and Mahbubabad to remain on high alert, mobilise officials in flood-prone areas, and form mandal-level committees if necessary. Superintendent of police Shabarish urged residents to avoid flooded bridges and roads, stay away from dilapidated houses and wet electrical lines, and refrain from fishing. Police were instructed to monitor water bodies and relocate people from vulnerable areas.
SDRF and DDRF teams have been deployed for immediate assistance, and the public has been asked to dial 100 in case of emergencies.
Meanwhile, the highest rainfall was recorded at 175 mm in Mangapet mandal, 145 mm in Eturnagaram, and 103.3 mm in Venkatapuram on Monday.