Heavy rains batter Hyderabad

A spell of very heavy rainfall on Tuesday morning spelt havoc for the city, as incidents of people being washed away in drains, wall collapses, waterlogging, traffic jams and civic issues came back to bite residents and officials alike.

The rain left several colonies inundated. Worst affected were Srinivasnagar in Chintal, Tolichowki, Seven Tombs, Shaikpet, Deen Dayalnagar, Manikonda, Miyapur, Swarnapuri Colony, Allwyn Colony, Medchal and Maisammaguda.

The situation was critical at Mallareddy College as water entered the multi-storied building, sending students and especially hostel residents into a panic. They were safely evacuated and shifted to safer locations.

The rain left Balkampet bridge waterlogged, as residents of Saroornagar braved the knee-deep water to make their way. Videos of waterlogging at the Erragadda Metro Station elicited widespread shock from netizens over the poor amenities.

Residents of Anjali Gardens at Manikonda were also among the worst affected as the water level was around four feet high. Areas adjoining the newly



inaugurated VST steel flyover were also badly flooded.

Residents of low-lying areas along the banks of the Musi river were alerted as the gates of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar twin reservoirs were opened on Tuesday. Six gates, up to two feet, were raised at the Osmansagar, which logged an inflow of 1,500 cusecs and an outflow of 1,380 cusecs. Four gates of Himayatsagar were also opened to increase the outflow to 2,746 cusecs, against an inflow of 4,000 cusecs of rainwater.

GHMC officials said that as complaints poured in from Quthbullapur’s Ayodhyanagar and IDPL, they arranged shelter for the homeless living under bridges at Goshamahal’s Chudi Bazaar. As many as 42 people from 16 families were moved to the shelter from under the Shivaji Bridge and MJ Bridge, officials said.

The Disaster Response Force (DRF) reported it received 53 complaints, including 28 waterlogging complaints, 20 tree falls and two wall collapses, of which they resolved 45. They said an ambulance and a bus were rescued, while a body was recovered.