Government Issues Emergency Instructions To Handle Rain Damage

Telangana Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao today convened an emergency meeting along with minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav with officials from various government departments at the GHMC Head Office in light of the heavy rains in the city.

Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin, MAUD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar, HMWSSB MD Dana Kishore and EVDM Director Viswajit Kampati participated in the meeting.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP Mahender Reddy and the police commissioners attended the meeting via teleconference.

The ministers instructed the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, MLAs and other elected representatives and officials to be available in the field and continuously monitor and coordinate relief measures.

KTR requested DGP Mahender Reddy and the police commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda to proactively monitor the inundated areas/roads and ensure that all the necessary traffic diversions were in place.

KTR also asked the officials to ensure that food, water and other essentials were available at all the relief shelters, and that doctors from the Basthi Dawakhanas were stationed there.

Referring to the uprooting of trees and the consequent damage to electricity poles, he asked the TSSPDCL officials to coordinate with the MAUD and the police department to ensure that power was restored at the earliest.

KTR also asked the HMWSSB MD Dana Kishore to ensure that all stormwater drains were functional, all manholes were guarded properly and drinking water contamination did not happen.

The Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy Collectors were also instructed by the ministers to coordinate with the police and the MAUD departments to evacuate people residing in low-lying areas and on the banks of nalas and the Musi river, and the homeless, to the relief shelters.

KTR also instructed the GHMC officials to inspect all the under-construction buildings and take the necessary precautions where cellars were dug.

Officials were also asked by the minister to evacuate citizens from the flood-affected areas and shift them to the nearby community halls and function halls. People living in the low-lying areas should be alert as the gates of the Himayatsagar and the Hussain Sagar were being opened to release the floodwaters, he added.

KTR also instructed the GHMC officials to double the number of Annapurna meals served in the city, and serve dinner too where there was a need.

The minister appealed to the citizens not to venture out for the coming two days as more rains were expected in the city.