New Delhi/Gurgaon/Hyderabad: At least seven persons including four children were killed today in two separate rain-related incidents following heavy downpour in Hyderabad since morning which has caused water-logging in many areas and brought traffic to a standstill in most parts of the city.
Four members of a family including two kids and their parents died after a wall collapsed on their hut at Ramanthapur area, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Malkajgiri Zone) E Ramachandra Reddy said, adding the victims were sleeping when the incident occurred.
In another incident, three members of a family including a woman and her two daughters died when the roof of their house collapsed in Bholakpur area, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) VB Kamalhasan Reddy said.
Another building collapsed at Lal Darwaja in Old City, but no one was injured.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy instructed officials that people staying in old and dilapidated buildings be evacuated immediately to save lives.
Due to heavy rains water-logging was reported at several places and GHMC teams were clearing stagnated points at Nampally, Secunderabad station, Khairatabad and other areas.
Following heavy rains, massive traffic congestions were reported between L B Nagar to Malakpet, Moosarambagh, Yakutpura, Uppal, Tarnaka, various localities under Secunderabad, Secretariat, Mehdipatnam, Lakadi-ka-Pul, Punjagutta among other areas.
Office goers had a tough time commuting to work with several roads overflowing while many residential areas in low-lying areas also got inundated due to heavy rains.
Due to heavy rains and water-logging at Hyderabad and Secunderabad area, 10 MMTS (local) trains between Hyderabad-Lingampalli were cancelled and 3 MMTS services between Hyderabad-Lingampalli were partially cancelled.
However, on restoration of normalcy four MMTS special trains were run between Hyderabad-Lingampalli to clear the stranded passengers, South Central Railway officials said. Amberpet received maximum rainfall of 118 mm in the city. Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma was monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Telangana municipal administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao tweeted that he is monitoring the Hyderabad rains and the resultant situation with Mayor Rammohan and GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) Commissioner. "Met dept predicting more rains in next 24-48 hours," he tweeted.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) AV Ranganath said there were reports of traffic block in some areas where water-logging was witnessed due to heavy rains in the morning.
"We are diverting traffic wherever it is necessary to ease the movement of vehicles. Due to overflow of drainages, there were water logs on some of the main roads leading to slowing down of traffic. With the help of GHMC we are trying to clear the blockades," the DCP said.
GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said IMD ( Met Department) has issued a forecast that there is a likelihood of moderate to heavy rainfall during the day.
In New Delhi, all flights were delayed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport due to heavy rainfall, with one flight diverted to Jaipur.
Heavy downpour also disrupted traffic at Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon. The fresh downpour also threw traffic out of gear in several parts of Delhi.
Massive jams were reported on major roads in Delhi and Gurgaon. The police also issued an advisory on Twitter, asking people to be ‘patient and disciplined’ and ‘stick to their lanes’.
The weather office has forecast thunderstorm with rain through the day. The minimum temperature was recorded at 26 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am.
"Water logging on Ring Road Dhaula Kuan, Bhairon Road towards Mathura Road, Roundabout Teen Murti, IGNOU Road, IP Flyover towards Sarai, Kale Khan, Barapullah flyover towards DND, Ashram Chowk.Ring Road Maharani Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, Raja Garden towards Mayapuri,Gymkhana towards Teen Murti Marg," Delhi Traffic Police said in a series of tweets.
"Avoid waterlogged roads. Keep central locking deactivated while driving through waterlogged roads," the police added.
"If the water is deep enough to submerge your vehicle's exhaust pipe, then try to avoid the road. #BeRainSafe," said the police in a series of tweets.
United States Secretary of State John Kerry's motorcade to the Indian Institute of Technology, where he delivered an address to students, was also delayed due to water logging. He reached the venue an hour late.
Kerry's scheduled visits to the Sisganj Gurudwara, Jama Masjid and the Gauri Shankar Temple have been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
