Army, NDRF begin relief operations in rain-affected Hyderabad

Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were pressed into service for relief works in rain affected parts of Hyderabad on Saturday as some residential areas remained under water for the fourth day.

Personnel from the Army and the NDRF swung into action to relief works in Alwal, one of the worst hit suburbs here.

There was no respite for flooded residential colonies in Alwal, Kukatpally, Miyapur, Nizampet and Begumpet as more rains lashed the city since Friday night.

The locals saved 40 children when a school bus was stuck in flood water in Dharaninagar in Kukatpally on Saturday morning.

According to eye witnesses, the driver ignored the warning and tried to pass through flood water. The children belonged to a private school, which was open despite the government declaring two-day holiday for all educational institutions in the city.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari said action would be taken against the schools which were open despite the government orders.

Meanwhile, people in inundated areas were facing shortage of food, drinking water and other essential items. Some non-governmental organisations were distributing food, milk and water packets.

Over 200 apartments in Bhandari Layout in Nizampet on the city outskirts remained inundated for the fourth day. Many inmates, majority of them techies, vacated the flats and moved to safe places.

Minister for Municipal Administration K. T. Rama Rao and other state ministers and officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) visited some of the areas late Friday night and Saturday morning.

With the met office forecasting more rains over next two days, the administration remained on alert. Six teams of the NDRF, each comprising 40 personnel, have reached the city for rescue and relief operations.

--IANS

ms/ss/