Hyderabad: Telangana’s streams and lakes spilled over, roads were cut off, and reservoirs swelled to the brim as the state was battered by heavy rain for the last 48 hours. Overnight showers ranged from moderate to extreme, flooding low-lying areas and disrupting life in several districts.By Wednesday morning, the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS) recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall in Beemini, Mancherial district, at a staggering 238 mm between 8.30 am on Aug 12 and 8.30 am on Aug 13, followed by Tandur in the same district with 174.6 mm. During the day, Mamidipalli in Ranga Reddy district received 87 mm of rain by 5 pm, while Mankhal industrial development area in the same district recorded 80 mm.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain for the next four days, prompting the state administration to be on high alert. Irrigation officials have been directed to keep a close watch on all projects, reservoirs, canals, and tanks.In Ranga Reddy, Suryapet, and Khammam districts, rainfall ranged between 30 mm and 90 mm. Parts of Mancherial were lashed by ‘extremely heavy rainfall’ up to 8.30 am on Wednesday. Officials have mobilised disaster response teams across vulnerable points and are monitoring water levels round the clock.The rains also brought stories of resilience. In Karimnagar’s Ganneruvaram mandal, wedding celebrations continued despite nature’s fury. With the only road cut off by an overflowing culvert, the bride’s family waded through the water and carried the decked-up groom, Komuramalu, into the village for the wedding.In Siddipet’s Bahthulavanipally, linemen of TGSPDCL waded through the swollen Nagasamudrala lake to repair a snapped power line, restoring electricity to hundreds of households.Emergency improvisation was the norm elsewhere too. In Mahbubnagar’s Garla mandal, a family ferried an ailing woman on a motorcycle to reach an ambulance after roads were washed out. In Mancherial’s Narsapur village, locals tied ropes across a raging stream to help a pregnant woman cross safely before rushing her to the hospital.Adding to the grim toll, the body of a man aged about 40–45 years was found washed ashore at Palair lake in Khammam district on Wednesday. Kusumanchi police sent the body to the govt hospital mortuary in Nelakondapalli. In Suryapet, officials have warned residents of villages along the Musi river to remain alert, advising them to stay away from the water and avoid risky activities such as taking selfies or shooting videos in the river.Officials have urged the public to avoid crossing flooded streams and to follow safety advisories as heavy rains continue.
