Hans news Service Hyderabad

Inview of heavy rains lashing Telangana, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju has directed district Collectors to take all necessary precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life or property.

The Chief Secretary ordered that tourists should be prevented from visiting waterfalls, picnic spots, and other hazardous tourist destinations during the period of heavy rains.

Collectors in the Godavari river basin districts were asked to closely monitor river conditions and alert residents in low-lying areas.

The CS held a video conference on Thursday with Collectors, Police Commissioners, and Superintendents of Police to review preparedness, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall for another two days.

He said that since heavy rainfall is expected to continue through Thursday night in several districts, coordinated action must be taken by all departments, particularly the police and district administration. He instructed Collectors to establish control rooms in every district headquarters and continuously monitor the situation. He stated that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have already been deployed and assured that any additional assistance required would be provided immediately.

Referring to the anticipated impact of El Niño, the Chief Secretary noted that rainfall is expected to remain below normal even in September. He instructed District Collectors to create awareness among farmers about shifting from paddy to alternative crops. He said vegetable cultivation would not only fetch better market prices but that produce would also be procured through the Hare Krishna Foundation, providing farmers with assured market support.

He directed Collectors to remain on high alert over the next two days, particularly in districts likely to receive very heavy rainfall, and to ensure that preventive measures are taken well in advance so that the public does not face any inconvenience.

During the meeting, DGP CV Anand informed that the Police department has identified 249 high-risk picnic spots near water bodies and an additional 167 tourist locations across the State.

Appropriate restrictions are being enforced to prevent public access to these locations during periods of heavy rain and flooding. He also stated that 12 SDRF companies are on standby for emergency response.