Hyderabad: Record-breaking rain paralysed Hyderabad on Thursday evening, flooding major corridors, halting traffic for kilometres, and plunging several localities into darkness.
The downpour, which began around 6:45 PM, dumped over 12 cm of rain in Serilingampally within an hour, while Khairatabad recorded 11.1 cm and Saroornagar 10.6 cm. Other areas, including Uppal, Dilshukhnagar, Bandlaguda, Malakpet, and Jubilee Hills, logged over 7 cm.
According to the India Meteorological Department, an orange alert remained in effect late into the night, warning of continued heavy rainfall. The storm brought intense lightning, gusty winds, and flash floods. IMD cautioned residents to stay indoors unless necessary.
Commuters across the city faced severe hardship as floodwaters submerged arterial roads. Vehicles were stranded from Mehdipatnam to Gachibowli, Panjagutta to Begumpet, and Malakpet to Hayathnagar. Long tailbacks formed along routes via Jubilee Hills, Kondapur, BioDiversity Junction, and LB Nagar.
IMD issues orange alert as floodwater cripples city
Low-lying colonies across Old City, including Santosh Nagar, Chandrayangutta, Kanchan Bagh, and Chatrinaka, reported floodwater entering homes. Rajanna Bavi, Shivaji Nagar, and Sivaganga Nagar in Chatrinaka saw open drains overflow, turning roads into streams.
Emergency teams from GHMC, SDRF, and Hyderabad Disaster Response Force were deployed across multiple zones. Officials worked to drain stagnant water and restore power supply, which was disrupted in several sectors.
Major intersections such as Kukatpally, Miyapur, SR Nagar, Ameerpet, and Khairatabad witnessed immobilised traffic. Office-goers were stranded during rush hour as roads became impassable. Pedestrians waded through knee-deep water. Residents in Uppal, Nagole, Banjara Hills, and Kondapur reported power outages and flooded basements.
Despite ongoing efforts, the rain showed no signs of abating through midnight. GHMC urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid travel.