Hyderabad

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats in Telangana are facing mounting challenges in tackling stray dog and monkey menace due to shortage of funds, staff and infrastructure. Financial constraints, lack of equipment, and dependence on welfare organisations have left many local bodies unable to cope with the growing problem.

Tension flared in Telecom Nagar, Raidurg, when HYDRAA teams with police support demolished shelters built on land earmarked for a park. Families resisted eviction, alleging no prior notice. HYDRAA later clarified that BSNL employees had been allotted 4,000 sq yards for a park in a 1982 HUDA-approved layout.

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan criticised the Telangana government’s approach to collecting pending traffic challans, citing the High Court’s recent orders against coercive recovery methods. He warned that such measures would not withstand judicial scrutiny and would face public resistance.

The Union Ministry of Coal has set up a two-member technical team to examine the cancelled MDO tender for the Naini coal block. The panel will study the tender process, CSR provisions and submit its report within three days

The Hyderabad Traffic Police jailed 270 motorists caught drunk driving during intensive enforcement drives held between December 24 and 31, 2025. Courts swiftly convicted the offenders, awarding varying terms of imprisonment.

The Eagle Force and Hayathnagar police arrested two drug consumers, Bhansilal alias Rahul Saini and Yogesh Rankavath, and seized 2.6 grams of methamphetamine worth Rs 13,000. Police are tracking absconding interstate drug peddlers linked to the case.

Masjid-e-Madina at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, is organising a ‘Visit the Mosque’ initiative alongside a free medical camp on January 26. The event aims to foster communal harmony and provide healthcare services under the supervision of senior cardiologists.

Chowrangee will present ‘Gayaki, Gat, Ghazal’ on January 31 at Taramati Baradari, Hyderabad. The special musical evening brings together renowned artistes to blend classical, ghazal and global music traditions, offering audiences a unique and immersive cultural experience.

GRP and RPF busted an interstate marijuana smuggling racket at Begumpet railway station, seizing nine packets worth Rs 8.2 lakh. Mamatha Digal was arrested, while prime suspect Ashok remains absconding. Police are investigating the interstate drug network.

Two people, Md Tajuddin and Nitish Reddy, were killed when a car hit their two-wheeler at Aleru, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri. Police registered a case, seized the vehicle, and took the driver into custody. Post-mortem examinations are underway.

About 100 stray dogs in Yacharam Gram Panchayath were allegedly poisoned and dumped in a trench. Stay Animal Foundation filed a complaint against local officials, prompting a police investigation. Post-mortem examination was conducted by veterinary doctors on Thursday.

High profit margins in cannabis are attracting small-time criminals in Hyderabad’s Mangaru Basthi and Fatehnagar. Smuggling ganja from Maharashtra and Karnataka, families target daily wage workers and auto drivers. Crackdowns by the Prohibition and Excise Department aim to curb the trade.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to rescue 16 Indians, including three from Hyderabad, who were deceived with false job offers in Thailand and forced into slave-like conditions on the Myanmar-Thailand border.

Katora Houz, a 16th-century heritage tank at Golconda Fort, once filled with rose water and surrounded by gardens, now lies neglected and used as a garbage dumping site. Locals urge authorities to restore this historic architectural gem.

The ITC WOW Awards 2025–26 recognised students, schools, colleges, and corporates for supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission. Over 1.15 lakh students contributed around 1,200 metric tons of dry waste, with awards presented by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and ITC officials.

Neglect and garbage dumping have turned the historic Katora Houz near Golconda Fort into a cesspool. Hyderabad-based NGO SAHE, with support from HYDRAA and archaeology officials, has initiated efforts to restore and protect the centuries-old water body.

South Central Railway has introduced new parking and traffic measures at Secunderabad railway station as part of redevelopment works. Parking is restricted on Platform No 1, while controlled access and paid basement parking are available on the Platform No 10 side to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Sankara Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, successfully restored vision in a patient with a critical retinal detachment. Despite a delayed diagnosis and high risk of vision loss, advanced retinal surgery led to steady recovery, with doctors continuing follow-up care.

The Indian Green Building Council and GHMC organised a stakeholder consultation in Hyderabad to discuss water discharge, waste and stormwater management. Officials and experts highlighted the need for integrated planning, flood resilience and sustainable infrastructure to build a water-secure city.

As part of Republic Day celebrations 2026, the Railway Protection Force organised a brass band performance at Begumpet railway station in Hyderabad. The event, attended by officials and staff, aimed to promote patriotism and was well received by passengers and the public.

HCES 2023–24 data reveal a sharp shift in Telangana from beedis to gutkha, with rural and urban households spending heavily on tobacco products. Public health experts warn the trend, driven by poverty and work conditions, could worsen nutrition and health outcomes.

A 55-year-old woman from Kenya successfully underwent a living-related kidney transplant at AINU, Hitec City, after exhausting treatment options back home. Her sister donated a kidney, and doctors said the patient recovered well after surgery.

A woman died while three members of her family were hospitalised in critical condition following an alleged suicide attempt in Jagathgirigutta. Police said financial distress pushed the family into depression, leading to the tragic incident. A case has been registered.

Hyderabad is witnessing ‘mixed winter’ conditions, marked by hot days and chilly nights, with a temperature variation of up to 15 degrees Celsius. IMD-Hyderabad said fog and large diurnal variation are likely to persist till the second week of February.