Families return as Musi River water recedes in Hyderabad’s flood-hit areas

With water levels in the Musi River receding, families in Chaderghat, Kishanbagh, and Narsingi returned to their homes on Sunday. Residents complained of poor alerts from authorities as volunteers and political workers distributed food and extended relief support.

Hyderabad: With the water level in Musi River receding slowly, families in the affected areas of Chaderghat, Kishanbagh and Narsingi have started returning home on Sunday.

Several habitats on either side of the Musi were inundated after the gates of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar were opened to release water. The inflows in both the reservoirs had increased drastically after heavy rains in Vikarabad and other catchment areas of the two reservoirs.

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Shaik Sameer, a resident of Kamalanagar recalled that the water level had increased rapidly after the gates were opened.

“We literally saved our lives in the night. Our belongings were completely damaged due to the failure of the authorities to alert us in time,” complained Sameer.

On Sunday, several families returned and cleared water from houses. Children were seen shifting the belongings to a safer place while the men and women cleaned the house.

“People are asking us not to return for a few more days. How do you expect us to sit calmly in some function hall or at a relative’s place when our house is inundated and belongings bought through hard earned money getting damaged?,” asked Mohd Mateen, a local resident of Chaderghat.

A few volunteers of ‘Terminate Hunger’ foundation were moving around the locality and distributing meals to the affected families.

In Asad Baba Nagar, Kishanbagh the scene was more of the same. Several houses were inundated in the slum forcing the residents to move out.

On Sunday, a few mustered courage to return and clear the water and clean the houses, while many stood outside waiting for help from the government.

“There is a lot of work to be done, and I don’t think with small children my wife will assist me. I am waiting for help from the government. I will call my relatives tomorrow and we will do it ourselves,” said Masood, a local resident.

The local AIMIM party workers were seen distributing food to the affected families and coordinating with the NGOs to provide relief to the people.