Hyderabad — As torrential monsoon rains continue to batter Telangana, the state is grappling with widespread floods that have upended lives, shattered infrastructure, and tested the resilience of its communities. By Thursday evening, 1,444 people had been rescued by disaster response teams across multiple districts, underlining both the chaos and courage in the face of adversity.
The Rescue Hustle
From Kamareddy to Medak, Nirmal to Karimnagar, helicopters and swift boats became lifelines. In Sircilla, stranded cattle herders were airlifted to safety. Nearly 500 residents were shifted to shelters, including 300 tribal children who were evacuated from a school overtaken by floodwaters. Meanwhile, roads gave way, trains stood cancelled or diverted, and anxious families waited for help amid rising waters.
Human Cost & Infrastructure Strain
Tragedy struck Kamareddy where a doctor’s home wall collapsed, claiming a life, while four others went missing in flash floods. The Devastation is stark: over 58 roads have been damaged and 20 irrigation tanks breached. More than 113 habitations in Kamareddy are facing drinking water shortages, with pipeline damage leaving hundreds without safe water.
Power infrastructure has suffered heavily too—over 1,300 poles and 280 transformers were damaged in Medak and adjacent districts, causing widespread outages. Linemen braved floods to restore cities, some swimming through waters to climb poles and repair transformers.
Defiance and Hope in the Midst of Crisis
A glimmer of durability emerged from history: the century-old Pocharam irrigation project, built in the Nizam era, withstood a massive 1.82 lakh cusec inflow—nearly three times its original capacity. Officials hailed this resilience as a symbol of endurance amid despair.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy conducted aerial assessments alongside ministers, directing officials to act swiftly in safeguarding lives, crops, and vital services. Road repairs, food supply chains, and health camps are underway. The High Court has been informed, and ex-gratia aid, shelter, and medical assistance are being mobilised for those displaced or injured.
What’s Next
With more rain forecast in the coming days, the situation remains precarious. Emergency teams, including the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities, remain on high alert. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, stay indoors, and heed warnings—while hope clings to communities, frontline workers, and the promise of recovery.
