Heavy Rains Lash Telangana, Farmer Killed by Lightning; Government on High Alert
HYDERABAD – A farmer lost his life after being struck by lightning in Khammam district as heavy rains, strong winds, and thunderstorms drenched several parts of Telangana on Wednesday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more severe rainfall across the state for the next five days due to a weather trough. Several districts are already grappling with flooding, damaged roads, and crop loss.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has placed the entire state administration on high alert. He instructed officials to respond quickly to any rain-related emergencies and safeguard people and property.
The worst-hit areas include the old districts of Mahbubnagar and Adilabad, where floods submerged low-lying neighborhoods and inundated farmlands. The rain also damaged minor irrigation structures and disrupted the road network.
In the old Mahbubnagar district, rainwater flooded paddy procurement centers, causing panic among farmers. Officials are moving harvested grain to safer places as the purchase of paddy continues at a fast pace.
Continuous rainfall overnight in Jogulamba-Gadwal and Narayanpet districts triggered rescue operations. Disaster response teams have been deployed to evacuate people from flooded zones.
In Nizamabad, strong winds and heavy rains battered villages like Lingampet, Banswada, Ibrahimpet, and Tirumalapur. Roads were flooded, and uprooted trees and fallen electric poles worsened the situation.
The lightning strike in Yellandu division of Khammam killed a farmer working in his field. Flooding also damaged paddy stocks in Chunchupalli and Mulkalapalli mandals. Reports of crop loss and cattle deaths have emerged from various districts.
The IMD has issued warnings for more heavy rain in districts such as Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, and Jogulamba Gadwal.
Thunderstorms with wind speeds of 30–40 km/h are likely over the next three days, including in Hyderabad. An orange alert has been declared for Thursday across multiple northern and central districts like Adilabad, Nirmal, Medak, and Mahabubnagar.
Chief Minister Reddy has directed collectors to protect paddy stored at procurement and market centers. He urged officials to move grain to rice mills immediately after weighing and take flood-prevention steps in vulnerable areas.
In Hyderabad, the Chief Minister asked departments like GHMC, HYDRAA, police, and electricity services to coordinate closely. Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao will oversee the situation and provide updates regularly.
