Moosarambagh Bridge Remains Shut
While the danger of water overtopping the bridge has eased, the force of the Musi’s current and the continued outflow from Himayatsagar make it unsafe for vehicles: Traffic police
HYDERABAD: After a day of heavy flooding, water has stopped flowing over the Amberpet-Moosarambagh bridge, but authorities are keeping it closed to traffic as the Musi remains in spate.
On Thursday, 11 gates of Himayatsagar were opened to release floodwaters. By Friday, only one gate remained open at a height of three feet. At 8 pm., the reservoir recorded an inflow of 900 cusecs and a water level of 1,761.70 ft, just shy of its full tank level of 1,763.50 ft. Outflow stood at 964 cusecs.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, traffic police said while the danger of water overtopping the bridge has eased, the force of the Musi’s current and the continued outflow from Himayatsagar make it unsafe for vehicles.
Three days of strong inflows also swept large amounts of trash, silt and debris downstream, where they became lodged in the scaffolding and pillars of the under-construction flyover at Moosarambagh.
“A lot of grass, plastic, clothing and other waste is piled up on the structure. We are clearing it, but there is more work left. Once the debris is removed and we coordinate with traffic police and reservoir staff, the bridge could reopen in a day or two,” said a Disaster Response Force (DRF) staffer from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Authority (HYDRAA).
HYDRAA officials added that residents evacuated from low-lying slums in Chaderghat, Moosanagar, Shankar Nagar, and Rasoolpura on Thursday have safely returned home. DRF, MET staff and police teams from Malakpet and the traffic wing remain stationed at the site to monitor the situation closely.