HYDERABAD: With school holidays, phased logouts in the IT Park Zones, and traffic and rescue teams on high alert, Hyderabad is all geared up to combat the heavy rains that are expected to lash the city from the afternoon.
Hyderabad has been put on a red alert by the IMD for Wednesday as heavy to very heavy rains with intense spells and strong winds of around 12 kmph will be experienced in the city limits and neigbouring areas.
As an impact, Hyderabad will experience massive water-pooling on roads and low-lying areas, traffic congestion, drainage clogging, wet and slippery roads as well as power-supply disruptions.
Weather enthusiast T Balaji also posted a weather forecast on Twitter, “Strong rains started in east Telangana, will move into Central Telangana as the day progresses. Strong rains will start from afternoon and rains expected in Hyderabad from the afternoon, which will get heavier by night”.
As of 10 am today, IMD recorded light rains and thundershowers with a speed of around 40 kmph in the districts of Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jangaon, Kamareddy, Khammam, Kumaram Bheem, Medak, MEdchal-Malkajgiri, Muugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Nirmal, Hanamkonda, Rangareddy, Warangal, Hanamkonda and Yadadri Bhuvangiri.
Heavy rains with wind speeds of around 41-61 kmph were reported in the districts of Jagtial, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Jogulamba Gadwal, Karimnagar, Mahbubababd, Mancheria, Peddapalle, Rajanna Sircilla, Siddipet and Wanaparthy.
The government also declared a two-day holiday for all educational institutions in the state in light of the expected heavy rains.
Following the order, all educational institutions in the city, several schools, and colleges remained closed on Wednesday. A couple of schools have taken to online classes so as to finish their syllabus on time before assessment exams get disturbed.
Also, most of the IT companies have asked their employees to work from home, even as others work towards following the staggered timings.
Cyberabad Traffic Police issued an alert to the citizens on Twitter with a warning, “All people should be alert due to heavy rains today and tomorrow. Go out only if necessary. Do not stay in dilapidated buildings. Do not go near overflowing drains and ponds in the suburbs”.
Meanwhile, as many as 70 lakh messages were sent out by the GHMC since Tuesday to alert the citizens about heavy rains and thunderstorms.
As far as the twin reservoirs, the water board opened 4 gates of Himayat Sagar releasing 2750 cusecs of water, while Osman Sagwar was at 3.253 TMC against the FTL of 3.90 TMC with an inflow of 1200 cusecs.
Helpline numbers:
Dial 100 for emergency
Hyderabad Traffic Police: Whatsapp number – 8712660652
Cyberabad Traffic Police: Whatsapp number – 9490617346
Rachakonda Traffic Police: Whatsapp number – 8712662465
GHMC Disaster Response Force Assistance on flood rescue and tree falling – 040-21111111 and 9000113667
