Heavy rains submerge temple in southern India; local authorities criticized for inaction
by Aditi VermaIn a devastating turn of events, a temple and its surrounding areas in southern India’s Telangana have been submerged due to relentless heavy rains. The situation has been exacerbated by the apparent negligence of irrigation authorities, who have yet to address the flood crisis effectively.
The incident took place at the Sri Sita Ramachandra Swami temple located in Bhadrachalam, which is a town in the Khammam district of the Bhadradri Kothagudem district on August 8.
Visuals showed the temple and its surrounding areas were severely flooded, with water levels rising significantly. The streets and pathways leading to the temple were submerged, causing major difficulties for locals trying to navigate the area. The scene was marked by widespread waterlogging, making access to and from the temple challenging.
The historic Sri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam, a revered pilgrimage site, is currently under several feet of rainwater following continuous downpours since last night. The inundation has forced the local community and temple authorities to scramble for emergency measures as the floodwaters continue to rise.
Residents and temple officials have expressed severe frustration over the lack of action from the irrigation authorities. Despite the flood warning and the rising levels of the Godavari River, which feeds into the temple area, the critical sluices at the Karakatta have not been operated to release excess water. This negligence has led to repeated flooding, submerging the temple premises once again.