Telangana rains: State on full alert for next four days, railways issue warning to staff

The railway department in Telangana has issued an emergency warning to its staff asking them to travel only at a speed of 30 km per hour, as heavy rainfall that began on Tuesday, submerged the railway tracks. 

Water at Bridge number 59 between Piduguralla and Bellamkonda has reached danger levels. Trains will be allowed to travel at normal speeds only once the water recedes.

The Indian Meteorological Department has also issued a red alert for the state for Wednesday and Thursday (August 13 and 14). The red alert indicates that the extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm will fall in just 24 hours. 

An orange alert, which indicates that heavy rains reaching up to 11 cm, has been issued for Friday and Saturday (August 15 and 16) as well. The rains in the state are accompanied by strong surface winds that will last the entire week, which go up to 40 to 50 kmph.  On Saturday and Sunday, (August 16 and 17), the wind speeds are expected to be at 30 to 40 kmph.         

Extremely heavy rains are to be expected in Kamareddy, Suryapet, Sangareddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda and Hyderabad areas. 

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy issued orders to revenue officials to take precautions so that there are no disruptions to public life. 

The revenue administration has been asked to remain on full alert, as rain will continue as per the alerts. They have been asked to ensure there are no disruptions to movement in the state.

Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has also suggested that special attention be paid to districts like Hanumakonda, Warangal, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Bhupalpalli and others, which are all witnessing heavy rains.

The weatherman said that the rains are due to the effect of the low pressure forming in the Bay of Bengal. There is an upper cyclonic circulation formation in the central west bay of Bengal. The formation is expected to move north over 24 hours to Odisha. However, rain will continue for the next four days in Telangana.