Hyderabad, Oct 31 (HS): The fury of severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ has plunged Telangana into mourning, leaving a trail of devastation across multiple districts. Historic Warangal, the cultural heart of Telangana, lies battered by floodwaters, while Khammam, Nalgonda, and Mahabubnagar districts have suffered widespread damage.

Torrential rains over the past two days have inundated vast stretches of north and south Telangana, flooding towns, villages, and farmlands. Streams and canals have overflowed, submerging over 4.47 lakh acres of standing crops. Paddy stored at grain procurement centres has been washed away, deepening the distress of farmers. Roads have been cut off, isolating several habitations.

So far, 12 people have lost their lives, and four remain missing, according to official reports.

Greater Warangal city remains waterlogged for the second consecutive day. Floodwaters entered homes across 45 colonies, destroying property and essentials. Nearly 25 colonies, including Bhimaram, Vaddepalli, Kapuvada, Shivanagar, B R Nagar, and Jawaharnagar, are still under water.

Traffic between Warangal and Hanumakonda has come to a standstill, with major roads such as Hunter Road and Mulugu Cross rendered impassable. Rescue teams have evacuated over 2,000 residents using boats and relocated them to 12 rehabilitation centres.

In Khammam, the Munneru river rose alarmingly to 26 ft on Thursday night, flooding multiple localities, including Bokkalagadda, Manchikantinagar, Motinagar, and Naidupeta. Authorities have set up six relief camps, providing shelter to over 520 people.

In the Nalgonda region, 20 houses were destroyed, 30 partially damaged, and 30 cattle washed away. The Devarakonda–Kambalapally road was swept off at Korutla village, while parts of Nagarkurnool remain inaccessible after sections of the Srisailam–Hyderabad highway were washed away near Lattipur.

The overflow of the Dindi and Nakkalagandi irrigation projects has cut off several tribal thandas (hamlets). At Mothithanda, 60 residents were shifted to safety using tractors. In Marlapadu thanda under Achampet mandal, around 250 families fled as rising waters from the Nakkalagandi reservoir submerged homes, livestock, and stored cotton.

Officials and disaster management teams have launched extensive rescue and relief operations, though the scale of devastation remains immense. Across Telangana, the people of Warangal, Khammam, and Nalgonda continue to fight floodwaters — and despair — in the aftermath of Cyclone Montha.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar