Hyderabad- The Telangana government has stepped up relief measures in the erstwhile Khammam district and other rain-affected areas due to heavy rains.

According to a government statement, some parts of Kothagudem, Mulugu, and Ranga Reddy districts have witnessed heavy rain since last night, which has resulted in the rising water level of the River Godavari to 43 feet in the temple town of Bhadrachalam.

The authorities have issued a warning for floods in Bhadrachalam and have requested the residents of the vulnerable localities to be shifted to the relief camps by the district collector Jitesh V. Patil.

IT Minister Sridhar Babu has also requested the Centre to declare the heavy rains and floods in Telangana a national disaster. According to Babu, 14 districts in Telangana have been devastated by flash floods, leaving 16 people dead and crops damaged to 1.5 million acres.