Heavy rains wreack havoc in Telangana, A.P.; IMD warns of heavy showers in parts of Gujarat, Himachal

The meteorological office in Shimla warned of low to moderate flash flood risk in several parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Kinnaur, until September 3 afternoon

The incessant rains and subsequent floods in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Vijayawada, is the “biggest disaster” in the State, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu witnessed in his political career, saying that he will request the Central government to declare the flood in the State as a national calamity.

At least 17 people have been killed in rain-related incidents and the floods.

“In my career, this is the biggest disaster...We had some events like Hudhud hurricane and Titli cyclone but compared to these, here the human suffering and property loss is the biggest,” Mr. Naidu told a press conference at the NTR district collectorate late Monday (September 2, 2024).

He said the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada witnessed its highest floodwater level and recorded a discharge of 11.43 lakh cusecs. The barrage was designed to withstand a maximum of 11.9 lakh cusecs of floodwater. He said some places such as Ajit Singh Nagar are still submerged but floodwater is slowly receding. The floodwater has receded by 1.5 feet in Ajit Singh Nagar and also started decreasing in Bhavanipuram, according to Mr. Naidu.

At least 16 people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents as torrential rains lashed Telangana and the State government on Monday estimated the damage at ₹5,000 crore and sought an immediate assistance of ₹2,000 crore from the Centre.

The incessant rainfall caused inundation of low-lying areas, damage to agricultural crops and disruption of the State’s rail and road links with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of those who were killed in the rain-related incidents, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the rain-hit areas and to declare the floods as a national calamity.