• Devastating floods hit Telangana & Andhra Pradesh: 35 dead, around 4.5 lakh affected

    National
    Devastating floods hit Telangana & Andhra Pradesh: 35 dead, around 4.5 lakh affected
    The Telangana government has announced a compensation package of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who have died...

    Digital Desk: Over the past three days, unprecedented rainfall and floods have wreaked havoc in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the loss of 35 lives and causing extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. The relentless downpour, fueled by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, has led to the submergence of thousands of acres of crops, significant damage to roads and rail tracks, and widespread disruption of daily life.

    In Telangana, the toll has reached 16 fatalities, while neighboring Andhra Pradesh has reported 19 deaths. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted continued heavy rainfall for both states, with particular attention on the Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Nirmal districts in Telangana. Isolated areas in Andhra Pradesh are also expected to receive additional rain.

    Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of Telangana has estimated the damage at Rs 5,000 crore and has urgently requested Rs 2,000 crore in immediate aid from the Central Government. Reddy has called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the affected regions and declare the floods a national calamity. 

    The Telangana government has announced a compensation package of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who have died, with five individuals still reported missing. Khammam district has been particularly hard-hit, with numerous households losing their belongings to floodwaters.

    In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been actively involved in monitoring the relief operations. The state has reported that 450,000 people have been affected by the floods, with 31,238 individuals evacuated to 166 relief camps. Landslides in the NTR district have contributed to the disaster, and Naidu has requested additional resources, including boats and helicopters, from the Central Government to enhance rescue efforts. The most severely affected districts include NTR, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, and Prakasam.

    Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has extended his condolences to the affected families and urged Congress leaders to support the relief operations. He has also called for comprehensive rehabilitation packages from both the Central and state governments.

    As relief and rescue operations continue, the states face the daunting task of managing the aftermath of the floods, with more rain expected in the coming days.