Hyderabad Rains: KCR Announces Relief, Ex-Gratia

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today initiated relief and rescue operations to mitigate the damage done by heavy rainfall in Hyderabad on Wednesday, and alerted the concerned officials to be fully prepared.

During a high-level review meeting on the rains and its aftermath, KCR interacted with Telangana Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy, Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy and others. He asked the minister and the officials to continuously monitor the situation in the areas affected by the rains, and carry out relief and rescue operations immediately. He also directed the officials to release the Hussain Sagar flood waters as the catchment area of the lake had increased in height this monsoon.

"Shift people living in the low-lying areas to higher lands and continue the rescue operations. Clear traffic jams immediately to prevent further grid locks," he also directed.

Expressing his shock over the death of three persons in Bholakpur and four others in Ramanthapur due to the rains, the Chief Minister announced Rs. 2 lakhs ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased.

In view of the meteorological department's forecast, KCR also asked the officials to ensure that no such incidents took place for the next two days of the downpour.

All departments should coordinate with the GHMC control room and mitigate the situation, the CM said.

Responding to the CM's instructions, KTR immediately directed the officals of his ministry to start the relief works. He also asked them to start inspecting dilapidated buildings, overflowing sewage systems, damaged roads and other infrastructure that were likely to be damaged during the rains.

"We have found 1,197 dilapidated buildings in the twin cities which will collapse if another bout of heavy rains were to occur. Make sure that the owners or those residing in them vacate to safer places," he said.

Of the 203 complaints that had been received so far, 83 were addressed, and the machinery was on the job to provide help to the affected people, he stated.