Heavy rainfall and flooding have affected 16 of the 33 districts in Telangana, reported The New Indian Express on Friday. The weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy downpour in the next couple of days.
In Telangana’s Nirmal district, more than 1,000 residents were evacuated from their homes and moved to safer areas as rain wreaked havoc for over 24 hours on Thursday, The Indian Express reported. Bhainsa town in the district has been completely cut off with all transportation links due to the rain.
Residents of Nirmal district were seen on camera fishing using nets as water flowed in from nearby rivers and tanks. “Many people in Nirmal town have already left for their relatives’ homes,” an official said.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao directed officials to take precautionary measures on a war-footing as water level rose in Godavari river catchment areas, an official statement said.
“More care should be taken on Godavari and Krishna rivers catchment areas,” the chief minister said, according to News18. “Set up an effective flood management team with seven officers who know how to take safety measures for people during the floods. Keep records of floods every year. Take preventive measures during the floods based on the record of the past floods.”
Goa and Madhya Pradesh
Meanwhile, a large number of houses in Goa were flooded as the water level of some rivers rose following heavy rain over the past few days, reported PTI. Sattari and Bicholim tehsils in the north and Dharbandora in south were among the worst-hit.
“There were no fatalities, but flood-like situation exists,” an official told PTI. “Those people whose houses have gone completely under water have shifted to safer places on their own.”
On Thursday, the weather department warned that a circulation in the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger low-pressure area that will cause more rainfall in Goa.
For Madhya Pradesh, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued two red alerts of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places.
The state’s 16 districts received very heavy showers in the last 24 hours, said senior meteorologist PK Saha. Of these, Bhainsdehi area in Betul district received the highest rainfall of 275 mm.
A weather department official said a low-pressure area has been formed over northwest Bay of Bengal. “Apart from this, a monsoon trough is passing over MP’s Rewa district, and an offshore trough is running from the coast of Maharashtra to Kerala,” he added, while explaining the reasons behind the heavy rainfall in the state.
Extreme weather has hit several parts of the world in last few weeks, with flooding in Europe, heavy rainfall in China and heatwaves in North America raising concerns about climate change.
Tamil Nadu
The Coimbatore district administration has sounded a flood alert to people living on the banks of the Bhavani River near Mettupalayam, PTI reported. This was after surplus water was released from the Pilloor dam due to heavy rain in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts.
People in the areas in Thekkampatti, Nellithurai, Mettupalayam, Alankombu and Sirumugai in Coimbatore district were also asked to move to higher places.
The regional meteorological centre in Chennai has predicted sporadic rainfall on Saturday in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, and Tenkasi districts, Hindustan Times reported. The coastal districts of northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will receive light showers on July 25 and 26, the centre predicted.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!