More rains in store for Hyderabad, GHMC issues high alert for low-lying areas

Hyderabad: The GHMC issued a high alert in the city on Monday, especially for the low-lying localities and areas where nala improvement works are underway, after the city experienced a cloudburst that lasted for several hours.

The cloudburst and winds blowing at 50 kmph uprooted around 60 trees. The GHMC received water stagnation reports from 228 areas. In most of the areas, electricity was shut down as a preventive measure. Some localities had no power the entire night.

The rains started at about 1 am on Monday and turned into a cloudburst that left several parts of the city and many districts affected. The rain on Sunday had affected internet connectivity in some areas as well as power supply.

For the first time this year, the rain measured more than 10 cm: Palakurthi in Jangaon district received 13 cm of rainfall while in Hyderabad Shaikpet and Amberpet recorded 8 cm each. Such spells in mid-summer are happening for the first time in over two decades.

There were intense spells in Saroornagar, Patancheru, Rajendranagar, Krishnanagar, Yousufguda, LB Nagar, Gudimalkapur, Champapet, Chandrayangutta, ECIL, Koti and Mettuguda.

Most of the roads had knee-deep water and it was worst in Shaikpet where traffic was badly impacted at the start of the working week. Nadeem Colony residents had to bear the brunt when water entered their houses.

Aziz Khan, a resident, said, “We have become used to such anxious times during monsoon and now even summer is not sparing us this ordeal”

Tirupathi from Sharadanagar, Saroornagar, said. “It rained heavily and many places in low-lying areas were inundated.”

The Indian Meteorological Department has sounded an orange alert, which means be prepared for more rain.