Cyclone-induced heavy rains throw normal life out of gear in Khammam, Karimnagar districts

KHAMMAM/KARIMNAGAR

Heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Montha disrupted normal life in the erstwhile Khammam and Karimnagar districts on Wednesday. This has prompted authorities to activate the emergency response mechanism in the rain-ravaged areas of north Telangana and set up control rooms to monitor the rain situation.

A driver of a van went missing after the vehicle was swept away in a swollen stream at Anjanapuram village in Konijerla mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident occurred when the van was crossing a flooded causeway amid heavy rain. The police launched a search operation to trace the missing driver identified as Murali of Aswaraopet. He remained untraceable till Wednesday night.

Vehicular movement was suspended between Khammam and Mahabubabad in view of surging water levels in Akeru stream at a bridge near Valya Thanda in Khammam rural mandal on Wednesday evening.

Incessant rains brought misery to farmers in several mandals in the erstwhile Karimnagar district as their paddy produce got drenched in the heavy rain at various procurement centres and open yards, sources said.

Water logging was reported in several areas of Karimnagar town due to heavy rain that lashed the town on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a holiday has been declared for all educational institutions in Karimnagar, Jayashankar Bhupalpalli and various other districts in view of the forecast of heavy rains on Thursday.