Hyderabad was plunged into chaos on Wednesday evening as a severe downpour inundated low-lying areas and brought traffic to a standstill across the city.
The intense rainfall, which began in the late afternoon and worsened during the evening rush, stranded thousands of commuters for hours on waterlogged roads.
According to data from the Telangana Development Planning Society, the suburb of Serilingampally bore the brunt of the storm, recording a staggering 126 mm of rainfall. It was closely followed by Miyapur and Maredpally, which saw very heavy showers of 112.3 mm and 102.3 mm respectively, as reported by TOI.
Traffic grinds to a halt
Key arterial stretches were transformed into virtual rivers. Traffic crawled bumper-to-bumper on waterlogged roads at Masab Tank, Lakdikapul, Khairatabad and in Secunderabad. The gridlock left residents facing gruelling journeys.
One private employee, Arvind Kumar, was cited by TOI as saying that his usual 20-minute commute from Khairatabad to Mehdipatnam took nearly an hour due to vehicles moving at a snail's pace and severe waterlogging near Masab Tank.
Residents wade through flooded streets
The impact extended far beyond the main roads. In residential pockets like Musheerabad's Bansilalpet, locals were forced to wade through ankle-to-knee deep water for essential supplies. The situation was particularly dire for families.
A homemaker, Lakshmi Vijaya, described how the entire stretch near her lane was submerged, forcing residents to carry children on their shoulders to cross the flooded area.
Other areas, including Gachibowli (94.3 mm), Musheerabad (91.8 mm) and Shaikpet (89.3 mm), were among the worst-hit pockets of the city.
Business and official response
The deluge also translated into financial losses for city traders. An electronics shop owner in Ameerpet, Nazeer Ahmed, reportedly said he was compelled to shut his store early as rainwater began seeping inside and customers were unable to reach him.
In response to the crisis, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi visited the severely affected Masab Tank to review the situation. She directed HYDRA, GHMC and water board staff to remain on high alert.
"Immediate pumping of water, road clearance and citizen safety must be ensured," the mayor was quoted as stating by TOI.
More rain forecast
With heavy rainfall lashing Hyderabad for the past several days, officials have reiterated calls for caution. Citizens are urged to avoid flooded underpasses and stretches and to exercise extreme care, especially after dark.
The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast more disruptive weather. It predicts thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of up to 40 kmph at isolated places across Telangana over the next 24 hours.
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