Heavy rains, floods and lightning cause devastation across Telangana

Warangal, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Khammam: Two people were killed and another was presumed dead in rain-related incidents, even as water levels in Munnuru stream in the worst-affected district of Khammam began rising on Sunday.

Ponaganti Sulochana, a 44-year-old farmer, died when he was struck by lightning while working in fields in Shyamnagar in Bhupalpally district. Three others were injured in the same incident.

Santhale Jyothiram, 54, of Namdevwada, was found dead in floodwaters near Khanapur Road in Nizamabad mandal. It is believed that the deceased might have been stranded in the slush while drunk.

A report from Nizamabad said that 24-year-old Feroz, a Mumbai resident, is suspected to have drowned in the Godavari river downstream of the Sriramsagar project. He had gone to the project for a picnic with his relatives living in Metpally in Jagtial district and was washed away when water was released from the project. A search has been launched for Feroz.

Ten farmers had a narrow escape when floodwaters submerged a stream they were crossing in bullock carts in Pendalwada in Jainad mandal on Saturday evening. The farmers were returning to their village after farming in the fields across the stream.

The farmers fought their way through the water and reached the bank. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media. The farmers claimed that the flood water was released from the Sathnala Irrigation Project without prior information.

In Khammam district, authorities evacuated residents from low-lying areas to rehabilitation centres as water level in Munneru stream reached 15.5 feet, just below the first warning level. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka visited evacuation centres and assured residents that the state government was ready to provide necessary funds for the relief effort. Schools in Khammam town and Khammam rural mandal were declared closed, while classes continued in other mandals.

Police are urging commuters to use alternative routes as roads are closed due to overflowing lakes and rivers. Authorities are taking safety measures to prevent further incidents as the region continues to be affected by heavy rains.

Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, which began on Saturday evening, affected many parts of the combined Warangal district, including Mahabubabad, Bhupalpally and Jangaon. Several lakes and reservoirs in Kesamudram, Guduru, Nellikuduru, Garla, Bayyaram, Kuruvi Devaruppala and Palakurthy mandals overflowed.

The floods inundated roads, disrupting vehicular traffic between Mahabubabad and Nellikuduru and between Mahabubabad-Guduru, Thorrur and Kuruvi mandals.

Severe conditions prevailed in Bayyaram Mandal as gusty winds uprooted trees and electric poles, causing power outages in several villages. In Jagna Thanda and RTC Colony, residents faced severe problems as floodwater entered their houses.

The Godavari witnessed a significant increase in water volume at the Telangana-Maharashtra border. About 100,000 cubic feet of water flowed into the river from Maharashtra. The temple town of Basar witnessed a large influx of devotees taking a holy dip in the river. The Sriramsagar project officials have opened 24 sluice gates and released 1.26 million cubic feet of water downstream.