6 pc excess rainfall recorded in Telangana in 8-days from July 20: says Minister Prashant Reddy in Council

Hyderabad, Aug 4 (Represenative) Minister Prashant Reddy on Thursday in the Council stated that the state had received 66 per cent additional rainfall in just 8-days from July 20 due to very heavy to extremely heavy rain observed during the days. The highest rainfall 557.5 mm was recorded by July 28 against the cumulative rainfall this season, till July 17 was 196 mm (20 per cent deficit rainfall from normal), said Prashant Reddy while giving an answer during the discussion in the Legislative Council on the “Consequences of Excessive rainfall in the state and measuring being taken by the government”. Out of 33 districts, 21 districts received large excess rainfall and 11 districts excess rainfall except Nalgonda, which received normal rainfall in the state, he informed. This prolonged heavy rainfall spell has caused flash floods over Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Hanumakonda, Warnaga, Mahabubabad, jangaon, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Karimnagar, Jagtial and Adilabad districts and urban flash floods over Warangal city. Under the guidance of Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), efforts were made to reduce loss of life and property, the Minister said that natural calamities cannot be predicted in advance.

However, efforts can be made to reduce the severity as much as possible. 139 villages were evacuated and 7,870 households consisting of over 27,000 people were shifted to rehabilitation centres, he said safe drinking water, food, blankets and medicines were supplied wherever required including those stranded passengers in bus and railway stations. Eight NDRF teams and four boats each along with safety and medical equipment were deployed to the badly affected district to rescue persons stuck in gushing waters besides two more team were requisitioned from Visakhapatnam keeping the escalating situation in mind, the Minister said we also deployed two helicopters of the Indian in Bhoopapally, Mulugu and Kothagudem for rescue operations and dropping of food and medicines in places marooned in floodwaters. The Fire teams managed to rescue more than 1500 people, he said that six persons were rescued through helicopter from Moranchapally and shifted to Bhupalapally district on July 27. As many as 260 degree students (girls) were rescued from the waterlogged hostel building in Warangal district, he said.

As many as 756 minor irrigation tanks and canals breached in the state due to floors and the amount for restoration is Rs 178 crore and Rs 100 crore are required for immediate restoration, the Minister said as many as 768 roads got affected and in which 527 were state roads and 37 were national highways. Rs 253.77 crores are required for temporary restoration of roads and Rs 1771.47 crore for permanent restoration, the Minister said the government also required Rs 187.81 crore for temporary restoration of 1617 panchayat Raj roads department and Rs 1339.03 crores for permanent restoration. The temporary restoration will be completed by August 8 at the latest. We salute to the electrical staff as they restored power within a short time, he said Mission Bhagiratha pipes were damaged in 1190 areas. As many as 419 houses have been completely damaged and 7505 houses were partially damaged during these heavy rains, he informed and said that we have ordered to grant them houses under the Gruhalakshmi scheme. The Minister explained that the CM will take a decision once the full report on crop damage is received. It is also anticipated that paddy will surpass last year’s record of 64.54 lakh acres, he added.