Rain Intensity Declines in Telangana, People’s Suffering Continues

Hyderabad:Flood-hit parts of Nizamabad, Adilabad, Nirmal, Siddipet, Kamareddy and Medak districts remained under water on Friday as relief operations were intensified, even as heavy rain lashed a few parts of north Telangana.

Though the intensity of rainfall decreased compared with the previous two days, people continued to grapple with flood-related hardships.

The agriculture department’s preliminary assessment put crop loss at 2.21 lakh acres, affecting nearly 1.43 lakh farmers in 270 mandals across 28 districts. Paddy suffered the worst damage at 1.09 lakh acres, followed by cotton in 60,080 acres, soya in 20,983 acres and maize in 16,036 acres. Horticultural crops on 6,039 acres were also lost. In the combined Medak district alone, about 16,000 acres were submerged.

In several places, sand deposits left behind by overflowing irrigation tanks and streams worsened the situation, eroding fertile soil and forcing farmers to bear the additional cost of restoring their lands. More than 50 irrigation tanks in Sangareddy and Medak districts suffered breaches, inundating farmlands.

The Pocharam project caused further disruption as floodwater washed away a portion of the Medak-Yellareddy highway, bringing traffic to a halt. An Army rescue team was deployed to save people stranded after a bridge was swept away, while NDRF personnel rescued eight persons trapped in the Manjira River in Nizamabad.

The impact on road connectivity was severe. In Kamareddy district, National Highway 44 witnessed a 15-km traffic jam from Sadashivnagar to Bhiknoor as rain-damaged stretches slowed vehicles to a crawl.

District SP Rajesh Chandra personally oversaw traffic regulation. Educational institutions in Medak and Kamareddy districts were closed for the second consecutive day as a precaution.

The Godavari river is witnessing heavy inflows, prompting authorities to lift project gates and release water downstream. At Ramannagudem in Mulugu district, the water level reached 14.83 metres, crossing the first danger mark, with officials warning of a further rise. District collectors have stationed flood-duty officers to coordinate rescue and relief.

At Kaleshwaram, water levels at Pushkar Ghat rose to 12.5 metres, breaching the first warning level and inching close to the danger mark. Floodwaters submerged Pushkar Ghats, private lodges and agricultural land, forcing officials to issue alerts even as rituals were performed at Triveni Sangamam.

Heavy inflows from Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh into the Godavari basin have increased the risk of flooding in low-lying areas of Adilabad and Nirmal. In Nirmal district, key stretches of the old national highway to Adilabad were washed away, cutting off areas such as Basar, Sarangapur and Soan mandals. Villages including Bidrelli, Jam and Madhapur were marooned after the Swarna Vagu and other streams overflowed.

The Manjira river too is in spate, worsening conditions in Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak and Sangareddy. The Nizam Sagar project is receiving inflows of 54,200 cusecs and discharging 43,286 cusecs, leaving villages such as Khandagam and Hangarga inundated.

The Upper Manair Project and Mid Manair reservoir are also recording heavy inflows, raising fresh flood concerns. Relief camps have been set up in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Adilabad and Nirmal districts, with flood-control rooms operational. Officials are monitoring inflows from tributaries including the Pranahita, Indravati and Taliperu, as warnings suggest water levels could rise further in the coming days.