Hyderabad: Devastating 1908 Musi River floods recalled on 116th anniversary

To mark the 116 anniversary of the Musi floods, the Forum for a Better Hyderabad in association with several civil society groups organised a memorial and solidarity meet under the Great Tamarind Tree, in the premises of Osmania General Hospital

Hyderabad: Children from different schools, intellectuals, historians and members of various voluntary organisations from Hyderabad on Saturday recalled the devastating 1908 Musi River Floods on the occasion of its 116th anniversary.

To mark the 116 anniversary of the Musi floods, the Forum for a Better Hyderabad in association with several civil society groups organised a memorial and solidarity meet under the Great Tamarind Tree, in the premises of Osmania General Hospital on Saturday.

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Chairman, Forum for a Better Hyderabad, Veda Kumar Manikonda in his address recounted the tragic loss of life and property during the Musi floods of 1908, mentioning that some individuals found refuge by climbing a tamarind tree in Afzal Park, which saved 150 people.

He praised the efforts of the Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad Deccan, in 1914, who established the City Improvement Board (CIB) to prevent future disasters of this magnitude.

Veda Kumar also recalled the contributions of renowned engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who proposed the construction of two balancing reservoirs across the Musi River. These reservoirs not only reduced the risk of flooding but also provided a sustainable drinking water supply for the city and irrigation for downstream areas, he said.

He suggested that wastewater from residential and industrial sources must be treated to surface standards, allowing its reuse for purposes such as gardening, agriculture, and industrial needs, with the remaining treated water being safely discharged into water bodies and the Musi River.

Prof.Anwar Khan, an activist said that this Tamarind Tree has saved the lives of 150 people irrespective of caste, creed and the rich and the role of youth in conservation of environment.