30 Rain-Related Deaths In Telangana, Including 15 In Hyderabad

Thirty people have died after heavy rains wrought havoc across Telangana on Wednesday - 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 low-lying areas. Nine others died after a compound wall collapsed and fell on 10 houses during heavy overnight rain.

It began raining in the city again late Wednesday night after a brief dry spell.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday 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.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he is "closely monitoring the situation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (and that the) Modi government is committed to providing all possible assistance to the people of both the states in this hour of need". "My thoughts and prayers are with those affected," he said.

In horrifying visuals from Hyderabad'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.

Most frightening video of a man being washed away in the force of the flood waters at #Barkas near #Falaknuma; not very sure if he could be rescued; unimaginable that regular roads can look like fast-flowing streams #HyderabadRains; video shared by Ruby channel @ndtv @ndtvindia pic.twitter.com/iS1LvvZ6ki

— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) October 14, 2020

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.

So in this sequel, almost a cinematic car pile-up happens #CarPileUp @ndtv @ndtvindia #HyderabadFloods #Hyderabad #HyderabadRain pic.twitter.com/KxwaSSEomX

— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) October 14, 2020

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.

Everywhere road blocks because of trees getting uprooted, power outages because lines got snapped #HyderabadRains @ndtv @ndtvindia pic.twitter.com/hpIP8COwO2

— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) October 14, 2020

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 relief and rescue columns in the Bandlaguda area, a statement said. The NDRF said it evacuated over 1,000 people from flooded areas in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.

This is the #HyderabadBoatClub ... No more captions needed says a fellow journalist who shared the picture #HyderabadRains @ndtv @ndtvindia pic.twitter.com/YJJiWDM9pX

— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) October 14, 2020

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.

Weather forecasts from IMD Hyderabad show some relief, 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.

With input from ANI, PTI