Hyderabad, Oct 29 (PTI) Heavy rains lashed different parts of Telangana on Wednesday due to the impact of severe cyclonic storm 'Montha', which crossed the coast in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh overnight.
One person died and another was feared washed away in separate rain-related incidents.
In Telangana, Warangal, Jangaon, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Rajanna Sircilla, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, Bhadradri Kothagudem, were among the districts that witnessed downpour, with rain lashing Hyderabad also.
Bheemadevarapalle in Hanumakonda district received 412.3 mm rainfall, followed by Kalleda 382.3 mm, Urus 336.8 mm and
Redlawada 333.3 mm in Warangal district, from 8.30 AM to 9 PM, the Telangana Development Planning Society said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Jangaon, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rajanna Sircilla and Karimnagar districts for Wednesday, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) very likely to occur at isolated places in these districts.
A red alert indicates extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours.
It further predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Suryapet districts during 5.30 pm of Wednesday to 8.30 am of October 30.
A 48-year-old man died in Suryapet district on Wednesday when a roadside tree uprooted following strong winds and fell on him, police said.
The incident occurred in Chandupatla village when the man was riding a two-wheeler and the uprooted tree fell on him. He died on the spot.
Heavy rains led to waterlogging of roads and inundation of low-lying areas at several places in Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Nalgonda and Siddipet districts.
In another incident, a truck carrying its driver was swept away in an overflowing stream in Khammam district, officials said.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed the entire state administration to remain on high alert following heavy rains triggered by Cyclone 'Montha'.
'Montha' means a fragrant flower in Thai language.
Reviewing the cyclone's impact, particularly on paddy harvesting, he instructed the authorities to take necessary precautions to minimise losses, an official release said.
SDRF and NDRF teams were directed to take up rescue operations in a coordinated manner in the rain-affected districts under the supervision of the district Collectors.
With Hyderabad witnessing rains, Reddy directed the local civic authorities to deploy disaster management teams.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), SDRF and Fire department personnel were told to respond promptly to public requests. Due to overflowing rivulets and canals, he ordered evacuation of families residing in low-lying areas to relief camps.
The State Irrigation department was alerted to closely monitor water levels in all projects, reservoirs and other water bodies.
Authorities declared holidays for all educational institutions in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad districts for Wednesday in view of the rains.
Nearly 500 students, besides 26 teaching and non-teaching staff from the state-run residential boys school at Komapally in Nalgonda district were rescued and shifted to a safter place after the premises was inundated due to heavy rains.
Due to water logging at Dornakal yard in Mahabubabad district, several passenger trains were cancelled while some others were partially cancelled and also diverted, a South Central Railway (SCR) release said.
Cyclone 'Montha' made landfall in Andhra Pradesh coast near Narasapur in West Godavari district, south of Kakinada. PTI VVK GDK VVK ROH
