Hyderabad’s August dread, as monsoons paralyse city, residents fear what next

Hyderabad has seen relentless August downpours, causing severe flooding, traffic chaos, and public frustration. With three 100 mm rain events already this month, IMD warns of peak monsoon ahead, leaving residents anxious about safety and daily commutes

Hyderabad: Just ten days into this month and people of Hyderabad are already dreading what the rest of August has in store for them. Every time the sky darkens, people in Hyderabad are filled with a wave of anxiety and dread, as a simple act of getting out now has become a gamble against the rain.

The last few weeks have been particularly trying for the general public in Hyderabad, with a series of cloudburst-like downpours making their lives miserable and paralysing the city. The experience of getting stuck in traffic during heavy rain in knee-deep water is traumatic, which has forced the public to vent their ire on social media.

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Just last week, commuters were stranded for hours on major arterial roads in core areas like Punjagutta, Ameerpet, in addition to the IT corridor, after an evening deluge. On Saturday again, people in and around Malakpet, Saroornagar and LB Nagar endured the worst experience due to waist-deep water inundation at Malakpet railway station.

There is a lot of frustration towards the urban chaos caused during the rains and anger towards authorities for the present state of affairs. “I reached home after midnight from office last week. I started at around 6.30 pm from my office in Banjara Hills and reached home at Kompally at around 12.30 am midnight. That was traumatic and I have not ventured out since then. Every time it rains, there is a visceral fear inside because I am totally uncertain about my safety, in case I venture out,” says P Manivarnan, an employee in a pharma company at Banjara Hills.

What makes August rainfall so impactful in Hyderabad is not just the total amount, but the nature of the downpours. August is known for short-duration, high-intensity rain spells that can lead to rapid urban flooding, waterlogging, and traffic congestion, senior IMD Hyderabad officials said.

Mind-numbing August rains:

· In just 10 days of August, people in Hyderabad experience three 100 mm rainfall events

· Last year, against a normal of around 460 mm, the city received 492 mm of excess rainfall

· IMD data analysis (1981-22) confirms that June-September accounts for 80 percent of Hyderabad’s annual rainfall.

· In an exception, in August of 2023, Telangana received 60 per cent less rainfall

· Trend indicates that monsoons peak in Hyderabad between August 13 and 16