Hyderabad: Continuous rain and flooding in Telangana have put the region on high alert. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has urged officials to prioritize public safety.
On Saturday, the Minister assessed the situation with senior officials. Flooding has damaged 454 sites, affecting 629 km of roads. Currently, 22 road sections have been washed away, with four already temporarily repaired to allow traffic flow. Venkat Reddy emphasized maintaining high alertness to ensure safety.
Out of 108 critical spots where connectivity was lost, 71 have been restored quickly, and work continues on the rest.
The Minister instructed engineers to inspect culverts, causeways, and bridges, stressing the importance of taking precautions to prevent casualties. He directed officials to work with the Police, Irrigation, Revenue, Panchayat Raj, and Electricity departments for effective response. “Immediate temporary repairs must be done where roads are cut off to keep public transport running,” he stated. Plans for permanent road and bridge repairs are also underway. He insisted that senior officials stay at district headquarters, providing real-time updates, and warned that no one should take leave for the next two days, emphasizing that while property can be rebuilt, lives cannot be replaced.
Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj announced that 24/7 control rooms are operational in all districts, connected to the State R&B control center for ongoing monitoring. Chief Engineer Mohan Naik informed the Minister that all 37 divisions are on alert, with field engineers being supervised via video conferences.
