Heavy rains, a direct consequence of Cyclone Montha, have caused widespread disruption to both rail and road networks across Telangana’s Mahabubabad district. On Wednesday, the region experienced severe flooding, leaving several trains stranded for hours and inundating many low-lying areas.
For instance, the Golconda Express, en route to Hyderabad, was brought to a complete halt at Dornakal Junction as its tracks disappeared under rising floodwaters. Similarly, the Krishna Express, bound for Tirupati, found itself marooned at Mahabubabad railway station. Numerous goods trains operating on the busy Warangal–Khammam route also faced significant delays due to the submerged tracks.
[Image: Floodwaters inundate the railway tracks at Dornakal railway station.]
In a swift and commendable response, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Ramnath Kekan personally oversaw the relief operations. He issued clear directives to his officers, emphasizing the critical need to ensure the safety and well-being of all stranded passengers. Following his instructions, Town Circle Inspector (CI) Mahender Reddy, Rural CI Saravaiah, and Dornakal CI Chandramouli, alongside other dedicated police personnel, mobilized quickly. They distributed essential supplies such as water bottles, biscuit packets, and hot pulihora meals to passengers stranded at Dornakal, Gundrathumadugu, and Mahabubabad stations. Furthermore, the district administration is actively arranging transportation to shift some passengers to nearby bus stations, enabling them to continue their journeys by road.
[Image: Mahabubabad SP Sudhir R Kekan supervising relief efforts at Dornakal railway station.]
SP Kekan reassured the public that the police force remains committed to assisting residents throughout this emergency. He, accompanied by Collector Adwait Kumar Singh, also visited the station manager at Dornakal to get a comprehensive overview of the unfolding situation.
[Image: Police distributing bananas to stranded passengers at Gundrathumadugu railway station.]
The relentless downpour prompted the district administration to declare a holiday for all government and private schools, a decision confirmed by District Education Officer (DEO) Dakshina Murthy, to ensure the safety of students.
Beyond the railways, the heavy rains have led to severe waterlogging in many low-lying areas, causing significant damage to standing crops. Road connectivity has also been severely hampered as numerous streams overflowed their banks. The district administration has issued a public appeal, urging residents to stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to flooding.