As parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reel from floods that have left several dead and many more stranded, the India Meteorological Department has warned that the two states are likely to get more heavy rain in the next five days.
Relief operations continued on Wednesday with the Navy and Air Force helicopters, in a joint operation, delivering 58,000 kg of food, water and medical aid to the rooftops of stranded households.
At least 16 people in Telangana and 17 in Andhra Pradesh have lost their lives in the floods.
From September 4 to September 9, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur in Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Adilabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sirsilla, Peddapalli, Khammam, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Warangal, and Hanamkonda districts of Telangana. Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are also very likely to occur at isolated places in all Telangana districts. In Andhra Pradesh, north and south coastal districts and the Rayalaseema region are likely to get heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next five days.
The rainfall is likely to cause more flooding in the Budameru Rivulet, flowing through Vijayawada city, which is already reeling with several of its areas under water since Sunday.
Thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places while those living in high-rise buildings are being provided food and water with the help of drones and helicopters.
Officials of Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said that while the floodwaters have started receding slowly, there is a threat of fresh floods. Andhra Pradesh has already announced holidays for educational institutions in Krishna and NTR districts, and district collectors across both Andhra and Telangana are likely to announce more holidays.
The Telugu film industry has also opened its purse strings to help with relief efforts.
Filmstar K Chiranjeevi on Wednesday announced Rs 50 lakh each for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for flood relief. Chiranjeevi’s brother and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan – also an actor – has announced a donation of Rs 1 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Actors G Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Junior NTR, and N Balakrishna have announced Rs 50 lakhs each to the CM’s Relief Funds of both the Telugu states, while Vishwak Sen announced that was donating Rs 5 lakh each to both the states.