The South Central Railway cancelled 21 trains and diverted 10 others on Monday from stations near Hyderabad, Warangal, Kazipet, and Khammam.
Following the severe rainfall that caused significant disruption in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain for Monday.
Educational institutions in rain-affected districts, including Hyderabad and Vijayawada, will remain closed. The heavy downpour has led to waterlogging, severely impacting rail and road traffic.
On Sunday, nine people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Telangana. The National Disaster Response Force is conducting search and rescue operations across both states.
Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted very heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh from September 2 to 5. Telangana is also expected to experience continued heavy rainfall on Monday. The downpour, driven by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, has been affecting both states since Saturday night.
Train Cancellations
After heavy rains flooded a railway track between Kesamudram and Mahabubabad in Telangana on Sunday, 21 trains were cancelled, and 10 others were diverted on Monday due to waterlogged tracks at multiple locations.
According to a bulletin by South Central Railway (SCR) on Sunday, trains from Chennai Central to Chhapra, Chhapra to Chennai Central, and New Delhi to Chennai have been halted.
Meanwhile, several trains, including the 12763 Tirupati-Secunderabad, 22352 SMVT Bengaluru-Patliputra, 22674 Mannargudi-Bhagat Ki Kothi, and 20805 Visakhapatnam-New Delhi, were diverted along with six others.
Stranded passengers were transported using two ‘scratch rakes’—substitute trains assembled with spare coaches—formed at Kazipet Junction. Additionally, two other trains, SMVB Bengaluru-Danapur and Danapur-SMVB Bengaluru, were diverted from Rayanapadu in Andhra Pradesh.
Previously, South Central Railway had cancelled over 20 trains and diverted more than 30.
To ensure safety and convenience, four helpline numbers have been established: Hyderabad-27781500, Warangal-2782751, Kazipet-27782660, and Khammam-2782885.
NDRF Teams to the Rescue
Twenty-six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been mobilized for flood relief and rescue operations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, officials reported on Monday.
Twelve teams are already on the ground, with an additional fourteen being dispatched, according to the officials.
The NDRF teams are being airlifted from various locations across the country to assist in the ongoing operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday to inquire about the flood situation in both states. The Prime Minister assured them of all possible assistance from the Centre, including the deployment of helicopters to provide emergency services in the challenging weather conditions.
Telangana’s Transport and Backward Classes (BC) Welfare Minister Poonam Prabhakar, along with several MLAs, met with stranded passengers at Kazipet Junction on Sunday and oversaw the restoration of the railway track, according to a press release.
Meanwhile, Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, conducted an on-site inspection of flood-affected areas in Errupalem Mandal within the Madhira Constituency of Khammam district to assess the situation, according to a release.
