A sudden downpour accompanied by strong winds lashed parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad on Tuesday evening hours after the twin cities witnessed one of the hottest days this year. The unexpected rain left roads waterlogged and also brought down large branches of trees. It also resulted in traffic jams and power outages.
As of 8 pm on Tuesday, officials of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Bolarum in Alwal received a rainfall of 29.8 mm while Malkaram area near Kapra received 26.8 mm, followed by Medchal at 23 mm. Parts of the city such as Quthbullapur received 11.3 mm while Jeedimetla saw a rainfall of 7.5 mm. Asifabad in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 42.5 mm
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) swung into action with Commissioner M Dana Kishore alerting the municipal body's Disaster Response Force and other officials to ensure that normalcy was resumed at the earliest.
In view of Medium to Heavy rains accompanied with winds expected in next one hour over various parts of the city #TeamGHMC alerted all officers & #DRFTeams. In case any emergencies/water cloggings/Tree falls citizens are requested to reach us by calling 04021111111 or Dial 100
— GHMC (@GHMCOnline) May 21, 2019
#GHMC #DRFTeams and IRT Teams clearing fallen trees and Water cloggings.#TeamGHMC pic.twitter.com/VX9gHCIaVJ
— GHMC (@GHMCOnline) May 21, 2019
Earlier in the day, the IMD had said that Hyderabad witnessed a maximum temperature of 42 degree Celsius on Tuesday, a deviation of 2.5 degrees above normal. Parts of Adilabad sizzled as the area witnessed a maximum temperature of 45.4 degree Celsius, followed by Nizamabad at 45.1 degrees. While Ramagundam saw the temperature shoot up to 44 degree Celsius, Medak witnessed a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees.
The IMD also said that the heat wave conditions are likely to continue through the day till May 25, even as thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds would occur over isolated places across the state in the evenings, especially in the districts of Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Jagtial, Karimanagar, Mancherial, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Wanaparthy and Hyderabad.
“The temperatures are going to be high during the day time and there will be thunderstorms in the evenings due to the clash in of the winds and increasing humidity in the air,” Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) of Skymet, was quoted as saying.
The Telangana government officials held a review meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday to oversee the weather situation in the state.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, eleven places witnessed temperatures higher than 45 degree Celsius on Monday, with Kurnool recording the highest temperature of 45.84 degree Celsius.