Hyderabad: Rain fury slows down but floodwater yet to recede

Hyderabad: Houses in Renukanagar, in Dammaiguda, were inundated with water after Saturday night’s rainfall. The houses are still submerged 48 hours after the rains stopped.

Bal Raj, a resident of the colony, who opened his house doors only to let water in, said: “There was earlier a kachha bund near the water body, and this had never taken place. But for the last three-years, our houses are filled with water every time it rains.”

The houses are thought to have been built on illegal land parcels that were grabbed from lake beds.

Asked if the house was legitimate, Mr Raj said he had purchased the house not the land. “We have no particular document which can clarify whether the land on which our house is built is legal. We had purchased the house from those who had registered it with the taluka,” Mr Raj said.

P. Santosh, another resident of the area said, “Colonies like Ambedkar-nagar and Sathyanara-yana Colony are completely waterlogged. Residents have to arm themselves with a mop and bucket to clear the water from their homes. The children and women have been moved out and only men are at home. We cannot leave as there is fear of burglary,” he said. A little further away, the Jawaharnagar Dumpyard’s leachate is making its way into the Dammaiguda Lake, leaving a foul smell to permeate the residences in the area.

“There are puddles of black water in the open areas around our house. Courtesy of the leachate, the Dammaiguda Lake is now frothing and triggering panic amongst residents of illnesses or rashes. I have been writing to the government and civic body for the last one-and-a-half months, but to no avail,” said Venkata Subba Rao, a resident of Dammaiguda.

The stench is unbearable. “For years now, we have heard the government talk about shifting the Jawaharnagar Dump. But that has still not happened. Why are we bearing the brunt of Gachibowli or Jubilee Hills’ waste?” questioned M Medha, resident.