Hyderabad, Jul 30 (PTI) Heavy rains lashed several parts of Telangana on Thursday, narrowing the rainfall deficit in the state during the current monsoon season and bringing cheer to farmers.
The rains led to traffic snarls in the city, prompting the Cyberabad Traffic Police to ask companies and organisations operating in the area to consider work from home wherever possible after 2 pm.
In view of the inclement weather, the Cyberabad Traffic Police, in an advisory to all schools and educational institutions in the area, suggested considering online or virtual classes on July 31, to minimise travel-related risks and inconvenience for children and ease pressure on road infrastructure.
According to the Telangana Development Planning Society, Tapalpur
in Mancherial district received 163 mm of rainfall till 8 pm, followed by 149.5 mm at Kolvai in Jagtial district.
In the state capital, the University of Hyderabad area recorded 18.5 mm of rain, followed by 13.3 mm at the Rajiv Nagar community hall in Uppal.
Several rivulets in the state were in spate, and reservoirs received inflows following the rains.
The rains over the last few days have narrowed the rainfall deficit, with near-normal levels now being witnessed, state Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said.
Reddy, who held a teleconference with disaster management officials, said the rainfall deficit stood at 30 per cent till four days ago, a press release said.
Reddy issued a slew of instructions to officials, such as taking safety measures near water bodies and evacuating people to relief centres if necessary.
Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, who held a video conference with officials to review the rain situation, asked district Collectors to take measures to prevent loss of life and damage to property, and instructed that control rooms be set up in every district in view of the forecast of heavy rains.
The Chief Secretary directed district Collectors to advise farmers against taking up paddy cultivation and to consider alternative crops instead, in view of the forecast of deficient rainfall in September due to the impact of El Niño.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon marked by the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, accompanied by changes in atmospheric circulation that can influence weather patterns across the globe.
Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann held a video conference with district fire officers across all 33 districts to review preparedness for the forecast heavy rainfall.
He directed officers to keep fire stations and rescue teams on high alert, ensure equipment remains operational, and be ready for immediate deployment.
Separately, amid the heavy rains lashing the city, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar advised citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions, a police release said.
With the IMD predicting heavy rainfall over the next two days, the Commissioner appealed to residents to avoid stepping out of their homes during rainy spells unless there is an urgent need, and to monitor weather updates and alerts issued by the Meteorological Department to plan their travel accordingly.
The Commissioner inspected traffic flow and road conditions at key intersections and issued instructions to personnel on duty to ensure smooth vehicle movement and minimise gridlock caused by the rains.
The IMD, in its weather warning, issued a ‘red alert’ for isolated places in Adilabad, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Jagtial districts, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong surface winds from 1 pm on Thursday to 8.30 am on July 31.
It said light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at most places over Telangana during the same period.
A ‘red alert’ indicates extremely heavy rainfall of over 204 mm in 24 hours. PTI SJR VVK SJR SSK
