Andhra Pradesh Telangana Floods: This incessant rain has wreaked havoc in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, killing at least 19 and displacing over 17,000 residents of the area. It is due to a low-pressure cyclone that has created immense floods disrupting life totally with widespread damage, particularly to roads, bringing the traffic almost to a grinding halt. Authorities were compelled to cancel 140 trains and divert 97 more, thus leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Infrastructural Collapse Leaves Areas Isolated as Floods Ravage Andhra and Telangana
The situation is grim, and the collapse of roads with infrastructural damage has sent several areas into isolation. Flooding has further disrupted basic services, and most parts of both states are cut off from much-needed supplies and aid. In Vijayawada city alone, over 2.76 lakh people were badly hit by the floodwaters, indicating the extent of disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana- Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy, respectively-inquiring about the situation and offering all help from the central government. The weather department has predicted heavy rainfall for another couple of days in the two states, increasing pressure on the teams involved in the present relief work.
Death Toll Expected to Rise
The toll is likely to go up as nine people lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh and ten in Telangana. Three others are feared to have been washed away in Andhra Pradesh, while a person remains missing in Telangana. Infrastructure has not been spared either with a railway track in Telangana severely damaged after the floodwaters washed away the gravel underneath it.
With unabated flooding, over 17,000 people have been shifted to safety in affected areas in Andhra Pradesh. National and State disaster relief teams have engaged themselves in round-the-clock rescue operations to shift stranded people and reach succor to the affected people. There is no let-up in the situation in Telangana, especially in Hyderabad. The city received heavy overnight rains that triggered unprecedented waterlogging. A holiday was declared for all schools in Hyderabad on September 2, anticipating heavy rains again.
Bridge Collapse Disrupts Key Highway
Several transportation routes, including the national highway connecting Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have been severely disrupted owing to the collapse of a bridge near the state border. This makes reaching the affected areas difficult, which in turn further delays rescue works and bringing relief to the areas.
In response, the crisis has deployed 26 National Disaster Response Force teams across the two states for flood relief and rescue work. Power boats have been brought in Vijayawada to assist in the distribution of food and relief materials. Government agencies are working in coordination with the NGOs and religious institutions for proper distribution of aid.
Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall Expected in Andhra and Telangana
The weather office has forecast thunderstorms and isolated very heavy rainfall over the two states during the week from September 2 to 5. Most of the rivers, including Budameru Vagu, popularly known as the ‘Sorrow of Vijayawada’, are in spate with a resultant increase in evacuations and relief camps.
While the states fight the ongoing calamity, the Centre has assured uninterrupted support though the road to recovery remains an uphill task with a bout of heavier rains looming ahead.
