Hyderabad's Unusual Serenity: A Snapshot of Life During Assembly Election Day

HYDERABAD: The bustling streets of Hyderabad experienced unusual serenity as schools, colleges, offices, parks, theatres, restaurants and cafes were closed until 5 pm to facilitate voting in the Assembly elections.

With most other places shut, residential and star hotels seized the opportunity and becoming unexpected epicentres of activity. The day-long closure prompted eager diners to explore unconventional options, leading to a surge in demand at hotels with attached restaurants.

Life sprang back onto deserted roads post 5 pm as shops, theatres and restaurants opened up. Many thronged liquor stores as the prolonged season concluded. Wine shops in Begumpet and Sanathnagar saw men standing in queues, as they waited patiently for it to open.

Pan stores too, many of which were shut due to fewer crowds on the streets, opened up as the sun set.

Earlier in the day, in Basheerbagh, voters found themselves navigating the calm streets at 10.30 am to a huge crowd awaiting breakfast at a breakfast place. The delay led them to embrace the offerings of pani puri and chai from roadside stalls.

"The calmness before the storm was surreal. The deserted roads but crowded restaurants allowed us to explore culinary gems we might have overlooked otherwise," said Pracheta B., encapsulating the essence of the day. Her father added that the quiet roads reminded them of the curfew during the Covid-19-induced lockdowns of 2020.

Star hotels, operating with skeletal staff until 5 pm, navigated the quietude with a sense of anticipation. At a restaurant in Secunderabad, early voter M. Janardan Rao shared his unique experience, stating, "This is the first time in my life in Hyderabad that I had to wait so long at a restaurant." The restaurant attached to a hotel witnessed a dance of patience and frustration, highlighting the challenges faced by establishments during the extended closure.

Narrow lanes came alive post 5 pm, with small stores and hidden eateries cautiously opening their doors. Cinema theatres, too, welcomed patrons for evening shows, with tickets vanishing swiftly.