PNS|Hyderabad
With the Indian Meteorological Department predicting an early monsoon starting in the last week of May, the Telangana Government has issued a state-wide alert, rolling out a detailed flood management protocol to tackle flash floods and heavy rainfall.
The Revenue (Disaster Management) Department on Wednesday directed all Collectors to coordinate with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire SDRF, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and ensure immediate readiness.
In a crucial move to avoid the delays witnessed in 2024, when NDRF teams lost the “golden hour” due to long-distance travel from Vijayawada, the state has now operationalised 12 SDRF teams strategically located across the state. Each unit comprises 100 specially trained police personnel from the Telangana State Special Police battalions. These units are expected to reach any district within an hour.
Three NDRF teams have been permanently stationed in Hyderabad and will exclusively serve Telangana. The state has also requested additional NDRF deployment in vulnerable districts during the monsoon season. Fire stations in all erstwhile district headquarters have been given flood-specific rescue gear and trained personnel, who will serve as supplementary SDRF teams.
For urban flood management, dedicated HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response
and Management Authority) teams have been constituted for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Rangareddy district. These teams are equipped with men and material to handle flood relief work on the ground.
The memo issued by Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar stressed the importance of coordination at the district level. In case of heavy rains or floods, Collectors should reach out to their assigned SDRF units. Contact details for each team have been provided in an annexure.
In addition, collectors must simultaneously contact the District Fire Officer (DFO) to mobilise Fire SDRF resources and coordinate with the State Disaster Management Department for additional NDRF deployment. Districts where Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) operates have also been advised to use their rescue teams for emergency relief.
Collectors have been asked to conduct vulnerability reviews of all flood-prone locations in their jurisdiction and take advance preventive action. “The state is better equipped this year to deal with monsoon emergencies,” Arvind said in the circular, urging proactive engagement with SDRF units to avoid last-minute confusion.
The 12 SDRF teams have been stationed at Yousufguda (Hyderabad), Yapalguda (Adilabad), Ibrahimpatnam (Ranga Reddy), Mamnoor (Warangal), Chalvai (Mulugu), Chathakonda (Bhadradri Kothagudem), Dichpally (Nizamabad), Kondapur (Ranga Reddy), Beechpally (Jogulamba Gadwal), Anneparthy (Nalgonda), Gudipet (Mancherial), and Sardapur (Rajanna Sircilla).
