Shamshabad, Hayathnagar and Saroornagar record deficit rainfall; groundwater levels decline: GWD report

Nearly half of Ranga Reddy district recorded rainfall deficits during the 2026-27 water year, with several mandals reporting shortfalls of up to 59 per cent. The decline in rainfall has led to a sharp fall in groundwater levels across most mandals, raising concerns over a possible groundwater crisis in rapidly urbanising areas such as Gandipet and Shamshabad.

Hyderabad: Several parts of the city including Shamshabad, Hayathnagar and Saroornagar received deficit rainfall as the monsoon winds down, according to a fresh report from the Ground Water Department (GWD) of the Ranga Reddy district.

Of the 27 mandals of the district assessed for groundwater levels last month, 13 mandals recorded rainfall deficits ranging from 20% to 59%, while 13 mandals received normal rainfall, ranging between 19% above and 19% below normal. Only Shabad recorded excess rainfall of at least 20%. This means that half of the Ranga Reddy district had a rainfall deficit.

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The district received 468 mm of rainfall against the normal 547.8 mm during the 2026-27 water year up to September 2026, recording a -14.6% deficit, according to the GWD report.

Data from 84 wells showed that  the average groundwater level in September was 11.74 metres below ground level (bgl), as against 6.31 metres bgl during the same period last year. A mandal-wise comparison of last month’s average levels with September 2025 showed a rise in one mandal and a fall in 26 mandals.

Thirteen mandals across Ranga Reddy district recorded severe rainfall deficits this season, with Abdullapurmet experiencing the steepest plunge at -38.9%, according to the report.

Areas like Gandipet and Shamshabad that host massive gated communities and commercial complexes, will face an acute groundwater crisis in the coming months due to groundwater depletion, a senior GWD official told Telangana Today.