On November 17, the Telangana government pulled a surprise by announcing that elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had ...
On November 17, the Telangana government pulled a surprise by announcing that elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had been advanced by two months. Even though polls were not due until February, they will now be held on December 1.
As the model code of conduct came into force, government initiatives that could possibly influence voters to choose the ruling party were suspended. This meant that Telangana has halted essential relief measures for residents affected by the devastating floods that hit the city after it was battered by heavy rains that started on October 14 and continued for a week.
Approximately 50 people died in the disaster. Tens of thousands of homes were inundated. The Musi river that runs through the city was in spate, tanks and nallahs developed breaches and low-lying areas were water-logged.
Residents in the majority of the city’s 150 municipal wards were impacted severely. Even today, water has not receded from homes in some areas. Many areas are dry but stinking.
The floods and extended rains increased the risk of Covid-19 infection by causing a breakdown of social distancing and putting health services under strain.
Drastic situation
The state said it had provided relief to 6.64 lakh families, which is 34% of the total number of households in...
