Rains make Hyderabad land in total chaos

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad on Thursday was in total chaos with scenes of water logging, traffic jams, flooded roads, including the newly laid ones in front of the Secretariat and the Martyr’s memorial, submerged underpasses, and potholes. Incidents of houses collapsing were also reported, but no casualties were reported.

The city’s IT corridor which was badly hit by the traffic jams on Wednesday night, and its extensions continued to remain in a grid lock with heavy traffic flow and traffic jams starting from the morning. Several residential colonies were inundated, forcing residents into deep trouble.

The roads in front of the Secretariat and the Martyr’s memorial were seen in at least one-feet deep water. Similar scenes were witnessed in Somajiguda, Panjagutta, Nampally, Bowenpally, Habsiguda, Tarnaka, Dilsukhnagar, Nagole. Ramanthapur, Malakpet and also Manikonda, Raidurgam, Madhapur and several other parts of the city.

The roofs of two houses — one each in Rajendra Nagar and Kavadiguda — were collapsed due to incessant rains. Trees got uprooted reported at Padmarao Nagar, Marredpally, Trimulgherry, MLA colony Banjara Hills, Rajendranagar. However, traffic police along with DRF teams cleared the trees, restoring the traffic flow.

An awareness video of Gaddam Mallesh, an SI with the Hyderabad police, explaining the precautions to be taken during rains, went viral on social media platforms. Sharing the video on Twitter CP C.V. Anand tweeted, “Since it’s #raining continuously, please listen to @hydcitypolice staff on duty and be careful.”

Rachakonda police advised people to stay away from electric poles, hoardings. “Citizens are alerted not to go near electric poles, trees, hoardings, temporary or very old constructions,” Rachakonda commissioner of police D.S. Chauhan tweeted.

Several colonies in Tolichowki, and Macha Bolaram were inundated due to the ongoing rains. A nala at Venkateswara Colony in Manikonda connecting the Musi was flowing above the road level, making it difficult for the colony residents to commute. The road under bridge at Lingampally was submerged, forcing a restricted traffic movement in the stretch.

With the traffic thrown out of gear, Cyberabad police mobilised its entire force for the traffic management. “ Cyberabad Traffic Police taking all possible measures to avoid inconvenience to the commuters. Please stay indoors and avoid travel to extent possible.” tweeted Cyberabad traffic police.

Visuals of bumper-to-bumper vehicular movement, moving at snail pace near Biodiversity junction, captured by denizens went viral. Further, traffic blocks continued to choke the entire IT corridor, Jubilee Hills, Mehdipatnam, Masab Tank, Lakdikapul, Banjara Hills, Panjagutta, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Tarnaka upto Uppal.

Traffic cops and police personnel from other wings and civic wings were seen stationed at some of these locations, clearing water logging, regulating traffic, but their efforts proved to be of little help to the commuters.

Cab aggregators also were seen charging exorbitant surge pricing due to the rains. A trip from Begumpet to RGI airport would cost over Rs 2,000 and Mindspace to Nacharam was charged around Rs 2,150. Users also complained of drivers abruptly cancelling rides and demanding payment only in cash on Wednesday and Thursday too.