The severe weather conditions have forced SCR to implement emergency measures to assist stranded passengers. At Rayanapadu, the SMVB Bengaluru-Danapur and Danapur-SMVB Bengaluru trains were diverted due to heavy water flow. Passengers from these affected trains were transported by road to Kazipet Junction, where they were transhipped using two ‘scratch rakes,’ trains assembled from spare coaches. In a bulletin issued by SCR, the authorities provided helpline numbers for Hyderabad, Warangal, Kazipet, and Khamman to aid passengers during the crisis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took proactive steps by reaching out to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Sunday to assess the situation. He assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of all possible assistance from the Centre to tackle the challenges posed by the heavy rains and flooding. The Prime Minister stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to provide any support necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of all affected citizens.”
Meanwhile, Telangana’s Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Poonam Prabhakar personally visited Kazipet Junction in Hanumakonda to interact with the stranded passengers. He was accompanied by local MLAs Naini Rajender Reddy, Kavvampalli Satyanarayana, and Hanumakonda Collector Praveenya, among other officials. The minister assured the passengers that efforts to restore the railway track would commence as soon as the floodwaters receded. “The railway track will be restored as soon as the water recedes, and train services will resume shortly,” Prabhakar said, addressing the passengers’ concerns.
Local authorities are actively working to manage the aftermath of the heavy rains, particularly in the worst-affected areas. Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, conducted an on-site inspection of flood-affected areas in the Errupalem Mandal of the Madhira Constituency in Khammam district to oversee relief operations. The state’s Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, also provided a detailed briefing to Prime Minister Modi regarding the extent of damage caused by the rains, particularly highlighting the severe impact in Khammam district.
During their conversation, the Prime Minister commended the state government’s efforts in maintaining high alert levels and preventing any loss of life. He further assured that “helicopters would be deployed to provide emergency services in adverse weather conditions,” emphasizing the Centre’s commitment to supporting the state’s relief operations.The recent bout of heavy rains has caused widespread disruption in the region, affecting not only railway services but also local communities. Earlier reports indicated that the SCR had already canceled over 20 trains and diverted more than 30, demonstrating the extensive impact of the weather conditions. The track damage between Kesamudram and Mahabubabad in Telangana has particularly hindered rail operations, prompting a coordinated response from both state and central governments.(With inputs from ANI)
