Hyderabad: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh experienced severe rainfall for a second day, leading to at least 20 deaths, widespread flooding, and significant disruptions to road and rail networks. The South Central Railway reported that six trains were canceled on Monday due to waterlogged tracks, following the cancellation of 140 trains and diversion of 97 on Sunday. Rivers overflowed, prompting the evacuation of thousands to relief camps by disaster response teams.
The prolonged downpour, attributed to a depression, has caused flood-like conditions in multiple districts, with Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh particularly hard hit. Many were trapped as water flooded homes and streets, submerging vehicles.
In anticipation of more heavy rain, schools in Hyderabad district remained closed, and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy encouraged offices and businesses to allow employees to work remotely.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah communicated with both states’ chief ministers, pledging central government assistance.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has requested that the central government declare the state’s floods a national disaster, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a visit to the affected areas and urging a national calamity declaration.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed solidarity with the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on social media, offering condolences to those who lost family members and calling on Congress leaders and workers to assist with relief and rescue efforts.
