Central Team Visits Telangana to Assess Flood Damage; Initial Loss Pegged at ₹5,438 Crore

Hyderabad: A six-member Central team, headed by Col K P Singh, began a three-day visit to Telangana on Wednesday to evaluate the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods. The state’s Chief Secretary, Santhi Kumari, briefed the team on the situation, emphasising the swift response that helped minimise the loss of human lives.

The Chief Secretary informed the Central team that despite receiving the weather alert on short notice, the administration acted swiftly, which helped reduce the loss of human lives. An official release highlighted this prompt response.

She added that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy regularly monitored the situation, and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with two other ministers, visited Khammam, one of the worst-affected areas, to oversee relief and rescue efforts. The state government quickly released funds to support district-level relief measures.

The Chief Secretary urged the Central team to relax guidelines to allow the state to extend more comprehensive relief. She also mentioned that the Chief Minister had directed the formation of specialised rescue teams, similar to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to respond to emergency situations. The state has requested support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for training and other aspects of these teams.

The ecological disaster caused by the uprooting of around 50,000 trees during a severe storm and cloudburst in Mulugu district on August 31 was also highlighted.

Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management, Arvind Kumar, estimated the damage at ₹5,438 crore, though assessments are still ongoing. Senior officials from agriculture, roads and buildings, municipal administration, panchayat raj, and other departments presented detailed reports to the Central team through a PowerPoint presentation.

Earlier, the Central team viewed a photo exhibition showcasing the extensive damage caused by the rains. Over the next few days, the team will tour flood-hit districts like Khammam and Mahbubabad, interacting with affected communities and local authorities.

(With PTI inputs)