What is the impact of Cyclone Montha on Telangana's Warangal and Hanamkonda towns?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Warangal and Hanamkonda faced severe flooding due to cyclonic storm Montha.
- Approximately 1,200 individuals were evacuated from low-lying areas.
- Rescue operations involved teams from the State Disaster Response Force.
- Heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
- Authorities are using drones to deliver essential supplies to affected areas.
Hyderabad, Oct 30 (NationPress) Towns of Warangal and Hanamkonda in Telangana were submerged on Thursday due to exceptionally heavy rainfall caused by the severe cyclonic storm Montha, which has since diminished into a deep depression over coastal Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Telangana.
Intense rainfall severely impacted areas including Warangal, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Nalgonda, Khammam, and other districts. The flooding of roads and railway tracks has led to significant disruptions in both road and rail traffic while crops sustained extensive damage.
Bheemdevarapalle in Hanamkonda district recorded the highest rainfall of 41.9 cm on Wednesday.
As reported by the Telangana Development Planning Society, 35 locations experienced extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20.50 cm, while 68 locations recorded above 11.50 cm.
Continuous rain has left numerous residential areas in Warangal and nearby towns like Hanamkonda and Kazipet flooded.
Hunter Road, linking Warangal and Hanamkonda, faced flooding due to the overflowing Bondhi stream, halting vehicle movement.
Traffic along the Warangal-Mulugu road was also disrupted by overflowing drains.
Flooding has severed road access to the Bhadrakali temple, with the surrounding colonies inundated by the overflowing Bhadrakali lake.
According to Warangal Mayor Gundu Sudharani, approximately 45 localities under the limits of Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) are flooded.
She mentioned that around 1,200 individuals were safely evacuated from low-lying areas and relocated to rehabilitation centers.
Seven teams consisting of State Disaster Response Force, engineering, and sanitation staff were deployed for rescue operations. Boats were utilized to assist in rescuing individuals.
Authorities employed drones to deliver food, water, and essential supplies to those trapped by floods.
Overflowing tanks and streams have exacerbated the conditions in Warangal and Hanamkonda districts. The bus station in Hanamkonda was submerged following the heavy rain.
A Road Transport Corporation bus became stranded in floodwaters at Upperpalli village in Wardhannapet mandal of Warangal district. The bus, bound for Warangal, was caught after water from an overflowing lake flooded the road. Fortunately, passengers managed to exit safely.
Meanwhile, Endowment and Forests Minister Konda Surekha visited the flood-affected regions of Warangal town. She communicated with residents trapped in submerged areas via phone, assuring them of assistance.
MP Kadiyam Kaviya and Warangal district Collector Satya Sharada also surveyed the flood-stricken areas.
Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in Saidapur mandal of Karimnagar district, isolating some villages due to a canal breach at Venkapalli which flooded the roads.
In addition, floods in the Munneru River in Khammam town submerged nearby residential colonies, washing away several vehicles. Nearly 100 families were relocated to relief camps.
The water level in Munneru has reached 24.7 feet, prompting authorities to issue a third flood warning. With heavy inflows from upstream, the water level continues to rise, flooding the Khammam-Bonakal road and halting vehicular traffic.