Heavy rains: CM KCR puts official machinery on high alert

With torrential rains continuing to lash Telangana State for the third consecutive day on Thursday and flood levels rising in both Godavari and Krishna Rivers, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao placed all the district administrations on high alert, particularly since the heavy rains are expected to continue for at least two more days.

The Chief Minister directed elected representatives and the officials concerned to take all precautionary measures on a war-footing and ensure that people residing in low-lying areas do not suffer. He instructed them to focus on areas that were vulnerable to floods and carry out rescue and rehabilitation operations wherever required.

Chandrashekhar Rao, who discussed the situation in the State arising out of heavy rains and the flood control measures to be taken at a high level meeting at Pragathi Bhavan, said: “Considering the very heavy rains in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, and Mahabaleshwar recording the highest rainfall of 70 cm, there will be an increase in flood levels of Krishna River catchment areas, requiring immediate measures to be taken up. 

Senior officials should be deputed to Nagarjuna Sagar and Jurala projects to monitor the dam safety and take necessary measures,” he said.

“With the construction of irrigation projects, all the water bodies including reservoirs, canals and streams in the State are filled to the brim throughout the year,” he said, adding that since the rains were likely to increase the risk of further flooding, he wanted the officials improve their awareness on flood mitigation measures as well as establish permanent systems for effective flood management.

Chandrashekhar Rao, stating that Telangana no longer required drought relief measures since water was now available abundantly, instructed officials to instead set up a ‘Flood Management Team’ on a permanent basis to deal with flood conditions. “We need to immediately set up an effective flood management team of seven officers who should have sound



knowledge of safety measures to be taken during floods. They must maintain records of floods every year and take preventive measures during floods based on the past records,” he said.

He elaborated the qualities these officers should possess that would facilitate swift response during floods. He wanted each official in the team to take up different responsibilities – managing rehabilitation camps, alerting Army, Air Force, NDRF and other rescue teams, coordinating with Medical and Health, Roads and Buildings, Panchayat Raj and other departments; and also coordinating with the GAD, Revenue, Irrigation, and other such departments which are involved in flood and related works.

The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to immediately constitute the team on a permanent basis.

The officials appraised the Chief Minister about the flood situation, rainfall recorded in Godavari catchment areas, the flood situation in upstream areas of SRSP upto Kadem, Yellampally, Swarna, and Kaleswaram project catchment areas as well as the situation in Krishna River catchment areas. In the wake of rising flood levels in Godavari River, the Chief Minister issued necessary instructions to Ministers, the Chief Secretary and the district collectors of erstwhile Nizamabad and Adilabad districts on safety measures. He asked them not to worry as the State government has initiated all the measures to prevent any untoward situation.

He wanted senior officials to be flown down by an Army helicopter to supervise operations in places like Kothagudem, Eturunagaram and Mangampet. The NDRF teams were asked to rush to Armoor, Nirmal and Bhainsa areas immediately to take up evacuation of people in low-lying areas. 

Officials were directed to make arrangements to provide shelter, clothes and food to people rescued from floods. They were asked to take all measures to rescue people struck in the floods in Adilabad, Mancherial, and Komuram Bheem Asifabad districts.