Hyderabad: Heavy rains submerge several localities; people fume

Hyderabad: Heavy rains in Hyderabad left several localities waterlogged on Thursday.

Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner A.V. Ranganath toured the affected areas to oversee the measures to tackle waterlogging.

Residents Voice Concerns in Sriram Nagar

At Sriram Nagar in Baghlingampally, where floodwaters had entered homes and inundated roads, residents told the Commissioner that the problem had worsened because a nala passing through the locality was deliberately blocked. They alleged that the obstruction was created to grab adjoining government land.

Water had risen to waist level on the roads, leaving many residents stranded. “How can we enter our houses through waist-high flood waters on the roads?” one resident asked, adding that attempts to pump out water with motors had failed.

Locals demanded that the nala be restored to its original flow. Responding to the complaints, Ranganath directed officials to take up work on a war footing.

He said the issue should be resolved within “two to three days.” He also suggested creating an alternative nala to channel water from Sriram Nagar into the main nala that drains into Hussain Sagar.

Waterlogging Near University of Hyderabad

Ranganath later inspected the Old Mumbai Highway connecting Gachibowli and Lingampalli, where floodwaters had pooled on the main road in front of the University of Hyderabad (UOH). The accumulation had disrupted traffic and made it difficult for pedestrians to cross.

Residents and officials informed him that water bodies within the university campus had overflowed after the downpour, pushing excess water onto the highway. In addition, the underground drainage pipeline had clogged, aggravating the situation.

Technical Solutions Proposed

Taking note of the problem, Ranganath directed the deployment of robotic machines to clean the underground pipelines.

He instructed officials to “cut and scoop out the silt” using the machines. As a backup plan, he suggested digging the road to create a temporary diversion for the water.

The Commissioner also asked the staff to continue using temporary pumping measures to keep the road passable until permanent solutions are implemented.

Urban Flooding Challenge

Hyderabad has witnessed recurring flooding in recent monsoons, largely due to encroachments on stormwater drains, inadequate drainage systems, and clogged nalas.

The latest spell of heavy rain has once again exposed vulnerable areas, with civic bodies under pressure to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions.