Over 1,000 evacuated from Telangana villages

HYDERABAD: Over 1,000 people were evacuated from villages in Telangana’s Karimnagar district as heavy downpour continued to pummel the state.

The water from the underconstruction Mid Manair dam in Boinapally mandal of the district had started overflowing, resulting in the earthen embankment getting breached. This had resulted in the area getting flooded.

“Over 1,000 villagers staying in six villages near the Mid Manair dam, which was overflowing, were evacuated last (Sunday) evening. It was a precautionary evacuation... the situation has now improved,” special chief secretary (revenue) Pradeep Chandra said on Monday.

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had directed his ministerial colleagues on Sunday to stay in their respective districts and supervise relief and rehabilitation works.

Rao cancelled his cabinet meeting that was scheduled for Monday and asked the ministers to coordinate with district-level officials to ensure evacuation of people from the low-lying areas.

In the wake of increasing flow in Godavari river and its tributaries, the chief minister directed district ministers, officials and also the police to remain alert. Rao further directed Warangal district administration to be on high alert as river Godavari is in full spate. The river is receiving huge inflows, therefore those living on the banks are susceptible to danger.

The chief minister also asked minister T Nageshwara Rao to maintain alertness in Khammam district as the water level in the river could reach danger level at Bhadrachalam in the district. “We are taking measures in view of the heavy rains in the past few days in the state, including in Hyderabad, which is unprecedented after the 1908 floods in the city,” he said.

Deputy inspector general of police (DIG) (Warangal Range) Ravi Varma told PTI, “We are keeping a watch on water level in Warangal and Khammam districts.”