Several low-lying areas cut off, marooned residents appeal for help as rains lash Hyderabad

Residents in the interior areas said that calls to GHMC went unanswered.
Several low-lying areas cut off, marooned residents appeal for help as rains lash Hyderabad
Several low-lying areas cut off, marooned residents appeal for help as rains lash Hyderabad
Written by:

Residents at Shirdinagar in East Anandbagh woke up to a sea of water on early Thursday. The heavy rains that lashed Hyderabad and Secunderabad on Wednesday had left them marooned in, after several low-lying areas near Bandla Cheruvu (Lake) were inundated.

Speaking to TNM, JLN Murthy, a local resident said, "The water from various places including Sainikpuri, RK Puram and other areas flow towards Bandla Cheruvu, and we are very close to the lake."

"Since the rain started last night, the entire colony is submerged, and the water is at a height of 7 feet. All residents of the area have moved to the first floor of their houses," he said on Thursday morning.

With no rescue coming their way as yet, the residents are in desperate need of help.  

"We need two boats and milk urgently. The water is continuously flowing and it has become dangerous for us to step out. We have also lost electricity," he added.

A video shared by residents showed water gushing through the streets on Wednesday night, with locals wading through knee-deep water.

Vasanthapuri colony in Malkajgiri also faced flooding on Thursday morning.

"The water flowed in from Sai Ram Theatre road and has entered our homes. All the rooms in the ground floor have water, and it is constantly increasing. The electricity has also not been there since 4:30am," a local resident said.

Bhaskar Rao, another resident of the area, said, "The heavy flow of water is continuing in the area. After overflowing out of the drain, there is around two-feet water inside houses, while it is almost 10 feet in the streets."

"The issue is that political leaders put a slab on the nala (storm water drain) here, and did construction work, thereby resulting in all the houses in the area getting flooded," he added.

An open drain was also said to be blocked in Durga Nagar.

"Last night (Wednesday) when it rained, around 2 inches of water entered our homes. However, it receded after midnight. On Thursday morning, again it has begun entering the house, and is constantly increasing now. The rain also has increased," Bhaskar observed.

"Those who have a first floor have moved their belongings upstairs. Others left the area as soon as they could. All the furniture in the house is damaged, and rice grains and other things in the kitchen have been spoiled," he added. 

Residents of both the colonies said that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) or local authorities did not come to their rescue.

"The GHMC team employs old people who are more than 50 years old, as monsoon labour. Now, how can these people help us? It is just to show something on paper. They did not desilt the drains and let the sewage open, which is why this is happening," Bhaskar points out. 

According to reports, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was roped in for rescue operations, after Uppal recorded 11.1 cm of rain and Malkajgiri logged 10.7 cm in 24 hours.

Repeated attempts by TNM to contact local GHMC authorities went unanswered.

(GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy monitoring work)

In a tweet, the GHMC said, "Citizens residing in GHMC limits can contact 040-21111111 or Dial 100 for any monsoon related emergency/water clogging issues."

At Nacharam, a nala overflowed, leaving an RTC bus stuck early on Thursday morning. Local authorities deployed a crane to get the bus out. All five passengers on board the vehicle were later rescued. 

At Uppal and Malkajgiri, the local police have stepped out on to the streets, and are helping civilians get to safety. 

In areas like MLA colony in Banjara Hills, trees were also uprooted.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com