21 Trains Cancelled, 10 Diverted Due to Heavy Rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Due to heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the South-Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 21 additional trains and diverted 10 others because of waterlogging on tracks at several locations. The intense rains have also damaged the railway track between Kesamudram and Mahabubabad in Telangana.

Among the cancelled trains are the 12669 MGR Chennai Central to Chhapra, 12670 Chhapra to MGR Chennai Central, 12615 MGR Chennai Central to New Delhi, and 12616 New Delhi to MGR Chennai Central, according to an SCR bulletin issued on Sunday.

The South-Central Railway (SCR) has also diverted several trains, including the 12763 Tirupati-Secunderabad, 22352 SMVT Bengaluru-Patliputra, 22674 Mannargudi-Bhagat Ki Kothi, 20805 Vishakhapatnam-New Delhi, and six others, according to the SCR bulletin. Due to heavy water flow at Rayanapadu, the SCR also diverted the SMVB Bengaluru-Danapur and Danapur-SMVB Bengaluru trains. Passengers of the affected trains were transported to Kazipet Junction by road. Stranded passengers were accommodated on two "scratch rakes" formed at Kazipet Junction. The term "scratch rake" refers to a train assembled using spare coaches that closely match the original train.

Previously, the South-Central Railway had cancelled over 20 trains and diverted more than 30. Helpline numbers have been set up to assist passengers: Hyderabad-27781500, Warangal-2782751, Kazipet-27782660, and Khammam-2782885.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to inquire about the situation in both states following the heavy rains and floods. During his conversation on Sunday, the Prime Minister assured that the Centre would provide all possible assistance to address the crisis.

Telangana's Transport and Backward Classes (BC) Welfare Minister, Poonam Prabhakar, visited stranded passengers at Kazipet Junction in Hanumakonda on Sunday. He, along with MLAs Naini Rajender Reddy, Kavvampalli Satyanarayana, and Hanumakonda Collector Praveenya, assessed the situation and assured that the railway track would be repaired as soon as floodwaters receded and train services would resume. He also discussed the restoration efforts with railway officials and instructed the district collector and other officials to minimise passenger inconvenience.

Meanwhile, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka conducted an on-site inspection of flood-affected areas in Errupalem Mandal, Madhira Constituency, Khammam district. The visit aimed to assess the situation and oversee relief efforts, according to a release.