Hyderabad: Rains bring city to its knees; low-lying areas submerged, Hussain Sagar nears capacity

Hyderabad: Relentless monsoon rainfall battered Hyderabad on Friday.

The city witnessed flooding in key areas. Low-lying neighbourhoods were submerged, bringing traffic to a near halt. The downpour also led to high inflows into Hussain Sagar, which hit close to its Full Tank Level (FTL).

Hussain Sagar Nears Capacity

By 5 p.m. on Friday, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) reported the water level of Hussain Sagar at 513.41 metres, just 1.34 metres below its FTL of 514.75 metres. The civic body issued an alert to residents in low-lying zones near the lake’s discharge channels.

Old City Hit Hard by Waterlogging

Several parts of the Old City, including Basheer Function Hall on Falaknuma Road and Ramaswamygunj near Chatrinaka junction, saw water stagnation of up to three feet. Motorists were forced to take detours, while pedestrians and bikers struggled to navigate through flooded streets.

Floodwaters entered homes in Yakutpura, Tallabkatta, Lalithabagh, and Al Jubail Colony. Internal roads were inundated, and commercial building cellars in places like Bahadurpura and Bandlaguda saw water gushing in.

Dr. S. Ramesh Rao, a retired civil engineering professor and urban planning expert, said: “Hyderabad’s drainage infrastructure was not designed to handle such intense rainfall in a short span. Many nalas are encroached or clogged, reducing natural water flow.”

Commuter Distress Across the City

Friday’s rain disrupted traffic across the city, with bottlenecks at major junctions like Gachibowli, Madhapur, Kukatpally, Tarnaka, and Lakdi-ka-pul. At places like Gayatrinagar in Ameerpet and Nacharam Bhavaninagar, rainwater resembled streams, pulling even auto-rickshaws into swift currents.

School children in Secunderabad were stranded as vehicles struggled to reach the campuses. At Jeedimetla, industrial premises were inundated, and visuals emerged of floating two-wheelers and goods in flooded compounds.

Metro stations saw unusual footfall as people turned to public transport. Platforms and ticket counters were overcrowded at key stations like Ameerpet, Miyapur, and LB Nagar.

Cyberabad Police Respond on Ground

Cyberabad Joint Commissioner of Police Dr. Gajarao Bhupal carried out field inspections at severely impacted traffic points, including Kondapur, Botanical Garden, Radisson Junction, IKEA, and Cyber Towers.

“We are coordinating with GHMC and HYDRAA for immediate dewatering and traffic regulation. Real-time updates from the Command and Control Center have helped speed up on-ground response,” said Dr. Bhupal in a statement.

The police have requested citizens to follow traffic advisories and avoid non-essential travel in flooded areas. Special teams from GHMC, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), and the HYDRAA flood response unit have been deployed across affected zones.

Rainfall Data (Till 5 PM, Friday)

• Bowenpally Ward Office: 93.0 mm

• Indira Nagar: 91.8 mm

• Picket Health Centre: 91.0 mm

• Kandikal Gate: 82.8 mm

• Moosarambagh: 81.8 mm

• Nacharam: 80.8 mm

• Phoolbagh: 78.5 mm

Weekend Weather Forecast

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad is likely to receive moderate to heavy showers through the weekend.

• Saturday: Thunderstorms with rainfall between 40–60 mm expected.

• Sunday: Overcast skies with intermittent showers likely, particularly in northern and eastern parts of the city.

“A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal is intensifying the southwest monsoon’s impact on Telangana. Citizens should prepare for continued rainfall and avoid flood-prone areas,” said meteorologist K. S. Sridhar.

Civic Response and Safety Measures

GHMC officials are urging residents to avoid throwing plastic waste into nalas and to report blocked drains via their emergency helpline (040-21111111). HMWSSB teams are also on high alert to manage overflow and sewer backflows.

As monsoon intensifies, authorities have stressed citizen cooperation, timely alerts, and inter-department coordination to mitigate flood impacts across the city.