Telangana Braces Under Rain, Lightning Toll: Farmer Killed, Heavy Downpours Forecast

Hyderabad / Telangana, Sept 26, 2025 — Torrential rains battered parts of Telangana on Thursday, with Mulugu district among those seeing moderate to heavy showers, and Euturunagaram posting one of the highest rainfall tallies. Tragedy struck in Nirmal district, where a farmer died after being struck by lightning, confirmed via post-mortem. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained a rain-watch for Friday, warning of light to moderate rainfall statewide, with chances of heavy to very heavy spells and thunderstorms with gusty winds in several districts. District administrations have cautioned farmers to avoid open fields during storm activity, protect stored grain, and power utilities have been placed on alert. The weather window coincides with active low-pressure systems over adjoining states, reinforcing a wet spell across the region.

In this comprehensive piece, we examine the meteorological overview, the lightning fatality and risk in Telangana, district-level forecasts, preparedness steps, historical context, and what the days ahead may hold.

Context & Meteorological Drivers

Rain patterns & weather systems

On Thursday, Mulugu district witnessed heavy to moderate showers; Euturunagaram recorded one of the highest single-day rainfall totals in the state.
According to the Imd’s 7-day forecast bulletin, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected over most places in Telangana, with isolated districts seeing heavy to very heavy rainfall particularly in Adilabad, Komuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Hanumakonda.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 km/h are also probable in isolated places across all Telangana districts.
An orange alert is in force for rain in several districts, with Hyderabad also placed on alert over the upcoming days.
The heavy spell is being driven by a low pressure / moisture convergence over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining states, pushing saturated air inland.

Lightning risk & agricultural vulnerabilities

Lightning during monsoon and post-monsoon periods is a recurring hazard, especially for farmers working in open fields. Telangana has seen prior lightning fatalities—e.g., in Khammam district, a farmer and livestock died in separate strikes. And earlier in June 2025, six farmers died in lightning strikes in Adilabad district across multiple sites.

This recent death in Nirmal underscores that even during rainfall, lightning remains unpredictable and deadly, necessitating urgent safety protocols.

The Farmer’s Death in Nirmal

Incident details

The deceased was a farmer named P. Krishna, from Boparayiguda village in Nirmal district.
Reports say he had been missing since Tuesday, and his body was recovered Wednesday night. The post-mortem confirmed lightning strike as the cause of death.
The strike apparently occurred while he was in the open, likely engaged in farm work or tending fields during rainfall.
The death adds to Telangana’s tally of agricultural worker casualties under storm conditions in 2025.

Risk factors & context

Farmers working in open fields, possibly in elevated terrain or near trees, are vulnerable to direct or indirect lightning discharge.
Lack of safe shelters or lightning rods in rural areas exacerbates the threat.
A delayed response or absence of early warning systems in remote villages compounds risks.
The concomitant heavy rain may mask storm progression, making it difficult to retreat to safe zones in time.

District-wise Forecast, Warnings & Likely Impacts

Forecast summary & alerts

From the IMD and Telangana forecasts:

Timeframe	Expected Weather	Districts Under Watch / Alerts
Today / Sept 26	Light to moderate rain or thundershowers in most places; heavy to very heavy in isolated districts	Adilabad, Komuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Peddapalli, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Hanumakonda
Tomorrow / Sept 27	Continued rain; possibility of heavy spells in many districts	Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar
Through Sept 28–30	Intermittent showers, thunderstorms, persistent wet spells	Spread across central, north and east Telangana districts

Districts to particularly watch include Nirmal, Adilabad, Mulugu, Warangal, Nizamabad, Mahabubabad. Hyderabad and surrounding areas also carry risk under isolated heavy rain spells.

Probable impacts & vulnerabilities

Flooding / waterlogging in low-lying areas, especially near riverbanks or drains.
Traffic disruption: roads may become slippery, visibility lowered; causeways or underpasses may submerge.
Power line / pole faults due to wind, lightning or falling trees; utility outages possible.
Agricultural damage: standing crops may be waterlogged, stored grain at risk; fields may be inaccessible.
Damage to infrastructure: rail/road embankments, small bridges, culverts may face stress.
Public safety hazards: lightning strikes, branch falls, erosion of slopes.

Preparedness, Precautions & Official Response

Government & administrative steps

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has asked all relevant departments (revenue, irrigation, disaster management) to stay on high alert.
District Collectors are directed to monitor rain-affected zones, open relief camps, evacuate vulnerable populations from low-lying areas, inspect causeways, and restrict traffic on flooded roads.
Power utilities have been asked to manage dangling wires, restore outages swiftly, and keep repair teams ready.
Local administrations in Nirmal and Mulugu have advised farmers to avoid open fields, bring livestock and stored grain under cover, and follow lightning safety guidelines.
Barricades have been placed in areas where river overflow threatens connectivity.

At-field precautions & rural safety

Farmers should suspend field work during thunder activity, especially in open or elevated areas.
Avoid sheltering under trees or metal structures; instead, take refuge in a sturdy building or enclosed shelter.
Unplug and secure electrical appliances, especially in rural homes, to guard against surges.
Use lightning detection apps / warning systems (e.g. Damini) to stay alerted.
Store harvested grains under weatherproof covers; relocate if possible to safer storage.
Livestock should be brought to safe pens away from open pastures.

Utility & infrastructure readiness

Power lines and transformers should be inspected, especially in rural electrified nodes.
Drain clearing teams must preemptively remove blockages to prevent flooding.
Road and bridge authorities should audit vulnerable segments, especially near rivulets / streams.
Health services and ambulances should be on standby, particularly in remote talukas.

Historical Precedents & Lightning Risks in Telangana

Lightning incidents have caused multiple farmer fatalities over years in Telangana and neighboring regions.

In June 2025, six farmers died from lightning strikes in Adilabad district across multiple villages.
In Khammam district earlier this month, a dairy farmer and a buffalo were killed in separate strikes.
The pattern underscores persistent vulnerability during monsoon/post-monsoon spells, especially in agricultural zones.

These recurring tragedies highlight gaps in rural lightning safety protocols, absence of early warning, and lack of structural shelters in villages.

What to Watch & Key Questions

Rain / lightning progression — whether intensification occurs beyond current predictions
Casualties & damage reports — whether other lightning strikes or storm damages emerge
Effectiveness of response — speed of relief, power restoration, road clearance
Agricultural loss assessment — crop damage, post-harvest loss, flood impact
Media & public awareness — whether warnings reach vulnerable communities timely
Hydrological spillover — inflow from rivers, upstream dams causing flooding downstream

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