Hyderabad: Continuous downpours under the influence of Cyclone Montha brought Hyderabad to a standstill on Wednesday. The rain, which began around midnight, intensified through the morning and consequently threw daily life into chaos. Commuters struggled to move through flooded streets across the city, while traffic slowed to a crawl in several major junctions.
Heavy rain floods major Hyderabad localities
Dark clouds hovered over the city as spells of heavy rain drenched Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Khairatabad, Punjagutta, SR Nagar, Erragadda, Kukatpally, Ameerpet, Koti, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Dilshuknagar, Begumpet, and Secunderabad. As a result, several low-lying areas turned waterlogged and roads remained submerged.
Commuters heading to work faced delays as vehicles moved slowly through inundated streets. Meanwhile, RTC officials reduced bus services due to fewer passengers. However, Hyderabad Metro trains saw a surge in ridership as more people turned to rail travel.
Cyclone impact hits rail and bus services
At the Secunderabad railway station, the South Central Railway General Manager reviewed the measures taken to counter Cyclone Montha’s impact. In addition, officials said the storm disrupted services connecting Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. RTC also cancelled over 30 buses bound for coastal Andhra as wind speeds increased.
Later, several IT firms advised employees to work from home due to the heavy downpour. Furthermore, the India Meteorological Department warned that rain would continue across the Greater Hyderabad region and urged citizens to stay alert.
Authorities issue traffic and safety alerts
City police therefore issued traffic advisories, asking people to avoid travel unless necessary. Meanwhile, GHMC and Hyderabad water board teams deployed workers to clear blocked drains and pump out water from flooded streets. Emergency teams remained on standby to handle rain-related incidents overnight.