Hyderabad: Intense thunderstorm dumps 100 mm of rainfall in city; disrupts power, traffic

Hyderabad: A sudden and intense thunderstorm on Thursday evening dumped more than 100 mm of rainfall in parts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, flooding roads, disrupting power supply, and causing massive traffic congestion across the city.

The heavy rain came just two days after a similar thunderstorm on Monday, compounding waterlogging problems in several neighbourhoods.

According to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) data recorded at 8 p.m., the highest rainfall was reported at Khajaguda Sports Complex in Gachibowli (123.5 mm), followed by Srinagar Colony (111.3 mm), CESS in Khairatabad (108.5 mm), Saroornagar (106 mm), and Yousufguda (104 mm). Other high-intensity rainfall zones included LB Nagar (93 mm), Banjara Hills (90.5 mm), and Nagole (85.5 mm).

Low-lying localities such as Ameerpet, Somajiguda, Madhapur, Manikonda, and Kukatpally-KPHB witnessed knee-deep water, leaving motorists stranded and several residential areas cut off.

Traffic Standstill and Commuter Delays

Major junctions across the IT corridor, including Gachibowli, Raidurg, and Shaikpet, were gridlocked for hours. A commute from Banjara Hills to Manikonda, normally 25 minutes, stretched to nearly two hours.

With traffic police and civic personnel stretched thin, residents reported that local volunteers helped guide vehicles through inundated roads. “We had to form human chains to direct traffic because visibility was poor and water was flowing onto the main road,” said Sandeep Reddy, a resident of Shaikpet.

Continuous inflows from upstream rainfall raised water levels in the Himayatsagar Reservoir to 1762.70 feet, close to its full tank level of 1763.50 feet. At 10 p.m., Water Board officials lifted one of the 17 floodgates, releasing 339 cusecs of water into the Musi River.

“Himayatsagar is receiving an inflow of about 1,000 cusecs. The gate has been opened as a precautionary measure to maintain reservoir safety,” said K. Ashok Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).

Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) reported outages across 43 power feeders due to tree falls and water ingress. Banjara Hills (11 feeders) and Secunderabad (12 feeders) were among the worst affected.

HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Administration) reported 18 trees uprooted across the city, which were cleared to restore road access. Pumps were deployed in OU Colony, Sheikpet, and Dream Valley to drain stagnant water.

Preparedness and Expert Opinion

Urban flooding experts noted that the back-to-back storms highlighted systemic drainage issues. “Hyderabad’s stormwater network is not designed for short-duration, high-intensity rainfall exceeding 100 mm in a few hours,” said Dr. D. Sreenivas, a hydrologist at Osmania University. “Until we address encroachments on natural drainage channels, such incidents will continue to paralyse the city.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not classified Thursday’s event as a cloudburst but acknowledged its severity. “Such high localised rainfall is linked to strong convective systems. The atmosphere over Telangana is currently conducive for these thunderstorms,” said meteorologist K.S. Sridhar speaking to Newsmeter.

Control Room and Public Advisory

Hyderabad Collector Harichandana Dasari confirmed that a control room has been set up at the Collectorate to address rain-related emergencies. Residents can call 040-23202813 or 7416687878 to report flooding, power issues, or damage.

Leaves of all tahsildars have been cancelled to ensure administrative availability, and residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy downpours.