Thirty people have died after heavy rains wrought havoc across Telangana today - leaving roads looking like rivers, cars completely submerged and carried along by powerful currents, and buildings almost entirely flooded.
As many as 15 deaths were reported from Hyderabad alone - among those a two-month-old baby - with water-logging in the city's low-lying areas. Nine others died after a compound wall collapsed and fell on 10 houses during heavy overnight rain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, or KCR, and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Jaganmohan Reddy, whose state was similarly affected yesterday, assuring them of all possible support from the central government.
In horrifying visuals from H's Barkas neighbourhood a man was seen being swept away by the floods. Two people, who managed to find shelter on a nearby elevated path, could be seen watching helplessly as the man was dragged away by the current.
According to news agency PTI, the man was later safely rescued with help from police and locals.
Also according to PTI, in the posh Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad, a 49-year-old man who ran a naturopathy clinic was electrocuted trying to remove water from the basement of his flooded home.
At least five people have been reported missing and the police are searching for them.
Power outages were also reported across the state as the rain uprooted electricity poles. Power supply was suspended in other parts as a precaution. Telangana Urban Development Minister, KT Rama Rao, held a meeting with the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) and urged restoration of electricity supply as soon as possible.
Thousands of acres of farmlands were also submerged.
The NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and Army have both been called in to help with relief and rescue efforts.
The Army has deployed flood relief and rescue columns in the Bandlaguda area, a statement said. Meanwhile, the NDRF said it had evacuated over 1,000 people from flooded areas in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.
The Telangana government declared a holiday for all government offices and private institutions for Wednesday and Thursday, and urged people to stay indoors unless there was an emergency.
Fortunately, weather forecasts from IMD Hyderabad show some relief for the battered city and state, with "nil" warnings and only "light to moderate rain... at FEW places" expected. There are, however, thunderstorm warnings for the weekend.
In Andhra Pradesh, heavy rains caused damage to roads and disrupted power supply at several places. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said 10 people had died in rain-related incidents over the past 48 hours.
Yesterday, rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 24 cm was recorded at more than a hundred locations in Andhra Pradesh, according to the Met Department. The worst-hit districts were East Godavari, West Godavari, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Krishna.
Thunderstorms with lightning have been forecast for regions in north coastal Andhra Pradesh over the next four days.
With input from ANI, PTI
