Hyderabad Faces Torrential Rain, IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Telangana

Heavy rainfall battered Hyderabad on Thursday, leading to waterlogging in several areas, including Khairatabad and MS Maqta. This deluge resulted in significant inconvenience for residents and disrupted vehicular movement, according to officials. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers for the next 48 hours in Hyderabad, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph. Mist or hazy conditions are anticipated during the morning and night.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Telangana, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds at isolated locations across all districts on September 18 and 19. This alert will extend to several districts on September 20, including Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal. The yellow alert is set to continue for all districts on September 21 due to expected persisting weather conditions. Previously, on September 14, two individuals were swept away by floodwaters following heavy rain in the Habeeb Nagar area of Hyderabad.

Search and rescue missions were initiated, with three teams from the Disaster Response Force (DRF) deployed to locate the missing individuals. Habeeb Nagar police station officials reported that, "Around 9 pm, after torrential rainfall, two people, Arjun (26) and Rama (25), were swept away in the flood. They remain unaccounted for, despite three DRF teams working on the ground. Water flow remains intense in the affected area."

In response to the severe weather, Hyderabad Traffic Police were actively deployed across the city to manage congestion, aid commuters, and clear flooded roads. "Our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure minimal disruption, regulating traffic at crucial intersections, coordinating with GHMC and HYDRAA teams for water clearance, and swiftly responding to emergency situations," stated the police. "We express our sincere gratitude to the public for their patience and cooperation during these challenging times. The Hyderabad Traffic Police remains dedicated to ensuring your safety and service."

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed officials to accelerate flood relief operations and has directed the state administration to seek financial assistance from the Union Government to enhance response and rehabilitation mechanisms in areas battered by the rains. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)