Heavy rain brings Hyderabad traffic to a standstill
Hyderabad:Hyderabad was battered by sudden downpours on Monday evening, with Banjara Hills recording 103.8 mm by night, the highest in the city, followed by Srinagar Colony at 97.8 mm and Khairatabad CESS at 87.8 mm. Streets were flooded within minutes, vehicles stalled and water entered bastis. At Devarakonda Basti in Venkateshwara Colony division, an overflowing nala forced residents to watch as their homes filled with rainwater. GHMC’s control room confirmed teams had been deployed to pump out water and provide relief.
The intense spell came a day after 17-year-old Sai Teja from Rasoolpura was swept away at a mini waterfall near Pedda Amberpet. Disaster response teams continued their search through Monday. The cascade, located off the Outer Ring Road, has already claimed two lives this monsoon but remains popular with locals.
Rains began around 4.30 pm, turned lighter within an hour, but continued intermittently till late at night. In Banjara Hills, autos were half-submerged and cars were left stranded in swirling water, with commuters wading waist-deep. By 5 pm, traffic police were diverting vehicles as low-lying areas in Khairatabad and Ameerpet turned into pools.
At 8.11 pm, the Flood Control and Communication Room (FCCR) issued an advisory warning of moderate to heavy rain with winds of 30–40 kmph in Hyderabad, Medchal–Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, and 15 other districts. It asked residents to follow SDMA guidelines and avoid venturing near open nalas.
The IMD also forecast thunderstorms with winds up to 40 kmph across Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy and neighbouring districts till late night. Elsewhere in Telangana, heavy showers lashed Karimnagar, Warangal, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Sangareddy, with Hayatnagar recording 60 mm.
Residents shared images and videos on social media, with one user describing the Amberpet waterfall as a “death trap with no fencing or warning boards.” Forecasts predicted steady light showers in Hyderabad through the night, while Siddipet, Yadadri-Bhongir, Warangal and Khammam braced for continuous moderate rain.
