In Andhra Pradesh And Telangana, rivers have swelled up and it has led to forced evacuation of thousands of people.
Torrential rain has disturbed life in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and has led to the death of several people in rain-related incidents. The continuous downpour has not only disrupted road and railway traffic, but has forced evacuated thousands of people to relief camps due to the swelling up on rivers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that more rains are likely in several districts of the two states. It was on Sunday, September 1, that Hyderabad witnessed heavy rain, leading to waterlogging in many parts of the city. It has led to shutting all schools in the district on September 2. In Telangana, the situation, meanwhile, is expected to worsen in some districts. Coming to Andhra Pradesh, the state is also expected to receive heavy rainfall, specially in parts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Kakinada and Nandyala districts.
In Telangana, 17000 people have been evacuated to 107 relief camps, and 1.1 lakh hectares of agricultural fields along with 7,360 hectares of horticultural fields have been damaged. For now, the Central government has deployed 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for relief and rescue operations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh owing to the current flood-like situations.
Before Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the states of Gujarat and Assam have seen similar flood situations with thousands of people displaced and multiple deaths. It seems that India is highly vulnerable to floods, and these recurring events cause a major loss to livelihood systems, property, infrastructure, education and healthcare facilities. Nonetheless, the rising cases of floods in major Indian cities can be linked to a variety of factors. Some of them include urbanisation, increased commercial activity in floodplains, and global warming.
In India, floods are happening in places that were earlier touted to be not flood prone. As for the rivers, they swell up after precipitation and bring heavy sediment load from catchments. Due to the insufficient carrying capacity of rivers, it ends up causing floods. Meanwhile, cyclones, cyclonic circulations and cloud bursts too lead to flash floods, which claim lives and cause massive damage to public and private property.
Hence, seeing the current situation in India, it is essential to have an emergency kit ready. If you live in a flood prone area, always keep a torch with extra batteries, a radio, and a first aid kit handy. Keep food, sealed water bottles, candles, and matches in waterproof packing along with documents like Aadhar Card and ration card, in order to stay safe during flood emergencies.
To say the least, it is vital for both the government and the citizens to be prepared for disaster with early warning systems, and sustainable development.
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