HYDERABAD: Hyderabad experienced a sudden and intense downpour on Sunday afternoon, disrupting weekend plans and marking the onset of what weather experts predict to be a rainy week ahead.
The Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS) reported that several areas within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits received heavy rainfall, causing moderate to heavy showers across the city.
According to the TGDPS' cumulative rainfall report, Malakpet recorded the highest cumulative average rainfall within GHMC limits at 45.9 mm, with a current hourly average of 2.3 mm. Other notable areas include Falaknuma with 51.9 mm and Goshamahal with 56.5 mm, both experiencing moderate rainfall.
In contrast, Malkajgiri saw 7.8 mm with 4.8 mm in the current hour, categorised as light rain. Overall, Hyderabad recorded an average cumulative rainfall of 15.7 mm with an hourly average of 1.6 mm, falling under the moderate category.
Many districts also experienced rainfall of varied levels, with Adilabad recording 21.2 mm the previous day, summing up to a cumulative 8.7 mm and a current hourly average of 3.2 mm. Medchal-Malkajgiri and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts also saw significant rainfall, registering current hourly averages of 2.7 mm and 3.0 mm, respectively.
The detailed report of GHMC highlighted specific locations that received heavy rains.
Balasetty water tank building in Charminar recorded 71.8 mm, followed by Sardarmahal also in Charminar with 70 mm. Other significant locations included Ziaguda Ranganath community hall in Karwan with 69.5 mm and Begum Bazar Doodh Khana UHC in Nampally with 63.3 mm.
Weather experts predict that Hyderabad and parts of Telangana will continue to experience rain in the last week of June.
Sunday's rains, which lasted about 40 minutes and ended around 6:40 pm, provided much-needed relief from the heat but also caused minor disruptions in daily activities, especially waterlogging hassles across several parts of the city including Rajendranagar, the IT corridor, Basheerbagh, Secunderabad, Amberpet and Barkatpura, among others.
Social media platforms were abuzz with reactions to the rains. Citizens shared images and videos of the downpour, with many expressing relief and joy at the cool weather, while videos of waterlogging and traffic snarls in some areas, came with calls for improved urban drainage systems.
The Indian Meteorological Department local forecast for Hyderabad predicts a generally cloudy sky with light rain or thundershowers likely to occur towards the evening or night on Monday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 33°C and 23°C, respectively. The recorded parameters for Sunday show a maximum temperature of 33.2°C, a minimum of 24.6°C, and a relative humidity of 67%.
