Overnight rain batters Hyderabad, several colonies submerged

Overnight rain was moderate to heavy across various localities in the city, reaching a maximum of 6.6 cm at Miyapur. Most areas record 4-6 cm rain, with areas such as Bandlaguda, Kapra, Golconda, Kukatpally, Malkajgiri and Shaikpet, receiving more than the city’s average rainfall

The city has ducked a major catastrophe by a very narrow margin, when the rainfall figures stopped short of matching the forecast of extremely heavy rainfall by the Meteorology Department on Wednesday.

The rain overnight between Wednesday and Thursday was moderate to heavy across various localities in the city, reaching a maximum of 6.6 cm at Miyapur. Most of the city recorded 4-6 cm rain, with areas such as Bandlaguda, Kapra, Golconda, Kukatpally, Malkajgiri and Shaikpet, receiving more than the city’s average rainfall.

As per the weather bulletin released by the Met Department on Thursday, the city may heave a sigh of relief from July 28 onwards, as the intensity of rains may reduce, though the skies may remain overcast with light to moderate rain.

Under the impact of heavy rain, inundation was reported at various localities. The Ayyappa Colony at Bandlaguda, which had been free from inundation after the SNDP work, was reportedly waterlogged for a brief while on Thursday morning due to backwaters from Bandlaguda lake. Ramreddy Nagar Colony at Boduppal too, experienced severe stagnation of rainwater, so did the Medipally area of Peerzadiguda.

“Every time it rains, we at Ramreddy Nagar and Shivpuri Enclave face inundation, owing to flows from NIN Nagar and above. This area has been constructed heavily in the last few years, but lacks in proper infrastructure. Despite several appeals, there is no result,” said Kurakula Uppalaiah, the president of the colony welfare association.

There was heavy waterlogging on Tolichowki main road owing to incomplete SNDP works pertaining to Shah Hatim Tank. Water entered commercial establishments along the road, causing heavy losses. The road in front of King Koti Hospital too was, under water causing misery to patients.

Water entered homes in Yellammabanda and Sikh Basti areas of Kukatpally. There have been more than a couple of wall/roof collapse incidents, but thankfully, nobody was injured.

GHMC staff and Disaster Response Force workers were seen toiling hard to clear the roads of water stagnation and fallen trees, braving rain and cold weather. Up to 6 p.m. on Thursday, the DRF received 28 complaints about water stagnation, and 35 of tree falls.

Roads everywhere have taken the worst beating, with pools of stagnant rainwater, slush, potholes, and large craters, giving an extremely hard time for commuters. People posted photographs and videos of the roads on social media and roasted the government and civic authorities.

Meanwhile, outflows from the twin reservoirs and Hussain Sagar Lake have increased following heavy rains. A total 6,500 cusecs of surplus water is flowing out of the Hussain Sagar lake, and the water level was 513.65 meters against an FTL of 513.41 meters.

By Thursday evening, four of the 17 gates of Himayat Sagar were lifted, to let out 2750 cusecs of water into the Musi River against the inflows of 2000 cusecs.

Outflow from the Osman Sagar reservoirs remained at 852 cusecs through four gates, against the inflow of 2000 cusecs.