Hyderabad rains create havoc , Officials told to remain alert

Hyderabad: With rains continuing to lash the city for the second consecutive day, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Tuesday went into emergency mode and all senior officials were directed to stay put in their areas and handle situations emerging from the rains.

Around noon, the civic body triggered the second-level alarm and officers and in-charges were asked to start mobilising men and machinery for emergency operations. With the rains remaining incessant overnight, several places in the city reported water logging and this had the field staff directed to generate hourly reports from their respective jurisdictions even as briefing with senior staff continued in the head and zonal offices.

The efforts of the civic body that commenced in the morning at Khajaguda and Malkamcheruvu were led by Mayor B



Rammohan and Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy.

The Chief City Planner held a conference with the officials and staff, and instructed them to maintain constant vigil as rains were expected to be intermittent over the next two to three days.

Focus was also laid on dilapidated buildings with instructions on issuing notices to such precarious premises and vacate the inmates in most dangerous structures. Special attention was sought for old compound walls and old school buildings. For the heritage buildings, the officials would not be issuing notices but submitting a report to Director (Planning) for further action on conservation and restoration.

An advisory was also issued to pay special attention to sloppy terrain areas and to vacate those residing in low lying areas.