Hyderabad: Thunderstorms, traffic jams disrupt city life

While the thunderstorms led to a significant drop in temperatures, giving relief to people, the resultant chaos on the city roads tested the patience of Hyderabad residents

Hyderabad: Widespread thunderstorms across Hyderabad, which began on Thursday afternoon and continued until evening, disrupted normal life by inundating low-lying areas, main roads, and causing massive traffic jams and waterlogging. While the thunderstorms led to a significant drop in temperatures, giving relief to people, the resultant chaos on the city roads tested the patience of Hyderabad residents.

According to the rainfall data from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TSDPS) weather stations installed across Hyderabad, the maximum rainfall of 91 mm till Thursday evening was recorded at GHMC Head office in Himayatnagar, followed by 90 mm of rainfall at the weather station in Dabeerpura, Charminar.

Heavy downpour and gusty winds within a short period of time caused main road and low-lying areas to be covered in sheets of rainwater, leading to inundation. Due to thunderstorms, motorists experienced major traffic at arterial roads in Gachibowli-Madhapur, Mehdipatnam-Tolichowki, Begumpet-Paradise, Himayatnagar-Nallakunta, Masab Tank-Mehdipatnam, Karkhana-Alwal and Habsiguda-Uppal sections.

At Khairatabad, two women passengers narrowly escaped injury when a tree branch fell on their car during the thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred when the car was travelling from Banjara Hills towards Khairatabad. On being alerted, the GHMC staff and police reached the spot, removed the branch, and shifted the car. However, the incident triggered a massive traffic jam along with stretch.

The disaster teams from the HYDRAA DRF launched efforts to ease traffic congestion by removing uprooted trees and removing water at inundated areas. Removal of uprooted trees were taken-up at Khairatabad, Saidabad State Bank Colony, Basheerbagh, Necklace Road, Musheerabad, Assembly Road, Banjara Hills etc. Water logging points were removed by HDRAA DRF teams at old Alwal, L B Nagar, Begumpet, Madhapur, Mehdipatnam etc.

Top areas that received rains (Thursday, 8 pm)
• GHMC head office (Himayatnagar): 91 mm
• Dabeerpura (Charminar): 90 mm
• GHMC Transport building (Saroornagar): 89.5 mm
• Begum Bazaar UHC (Nampally): 88.0 mm
• Talla Basthi Community Hall (Musheerabad): 87.8 mm
• Millath community hall at Malakpet (Amberpet mandal): 85.0 mm
• Yakuthpura library building (Charminar): 83.5 mm