Heavy rains cause flooding and traffic chaos in Hyderabad

Heavy rains struck Hyderabad on Friday night, causing significant disruptions on Saturday morning. The downpour lasted around two hours and led to severe flooding in many parts of the city. The Telangana Development Planning Society reported that Gachibowli saw the most rainfall, receiving 54.4 mm. Several areas were affected, including Madhapur, Khairatabad, and Borabanda, which also experienced heavy rainfall. Many roads were flooded, leaving vehicles stranded. A local jewellery shop owner described how parked cars were swept away within minutes as water levels quickly rose. Traffic gridlock was another consequence of the rains. One commuter noted that his travel time nearly doubled, taking two hours to get to Gachibowli instead of the usual hour. Power outages also plagued many neighborhoods, with some areas reportedly without electricity for hours. Residents expressed frustration over the outages, especially those who had important plans. One mother mentioned that her son missed part of his exam due to the power loss. The Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company acknowledged the delays in restoring power due to damage to infrastructure. The issue of power outages was discussed in the assembly on Saturday. MLA Jafar Hussain Meraj highlighted how quickly areas lost power after just two hours of rain. Meanwhile, city officials are working to clear flooded roads, and police are managing traffic in the worst-hit locations. The India Meteorological Department has forecasted more rain and thunderstorms through Monday.