Telangana declares 3-day holiday for educational institutions amid heavy rains

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday declared three days of holiday for educational institutions from July 11 in view of heavy rains in the State.

Rao reviewed the situation, the measures are taken so far and the precautionary steps being taken with Ministers, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and other senior officials at a high-level meeting at Pragathi Bhavan, Rao’s official residence complex-cum-camp office, said an official release.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Secretary held a video conference with the Collectors of districts and took stock of the situation. He directed the Collectors to work in close coordination with all departments and see to it no untoward incident takes place.

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The Chief Secretary said the Collectors should be on high alert and take steps to prevent loss of life, cattle or damage to any property, another official release said. He directed the Collectors also to set up a control room in the Collectorates. Irrigation, Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and Energy Departments should ensure that no problems arise.

"Heavy rains were reported in the districts of Asifabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Siricilla, Bhupalpally and Mulugu. As the tanks, ponds and reservoirs are in spate, officials should be on high alert and see to it that sandbags are kept ready if vulnerable tanks breach," he said.

"People living in low-lying areas may be shifted to special camps, if necessary. Any damages to roads should be immediately repaired," he added.

Special Chief Secretary-Energy Sunil Sharma, Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Arvind Kumar and other officials participated in the video conference.

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Waterlogging and inundation in low-lying areas in different districts were reported. Streams and rivulets were in spate.

The Met centre, in its daily weather report, said Kaleswaram in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district recorded 35 cm of rainfall followed by Kotapalle in Mancherial district 25 cm and Navipet in Nizamabad district 24 cm till 8:30 am today.

It said the South-West monsoon has been vigorous.

Extremely heavy rain occurred in isolated places in Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, and Peddapalle and heavy to very heavy rain occurred at Adilabad, Jagityal, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Nirmal and Nizamabad districts, the report said.

In its weather warning, the Met centre said heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagityal, Peddapally, Jayashankar Bhupalapally districts till 8.20 am on Monday.

Similarly, heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagityal, Jayashankar Bhupalapally districts from 8.30 am on July 11 to 8.30 am on July 12, the weather bulletin issued today said.