A sudden spell of torrential rains accompanied by thunderstorms brought Hyderabad and several surrounding districts to a grinding halt on Thursday, revealing the city’s fragile urban infrastructure and the rising toll of extreme weather patterns.
In a grim reminder of nature’s fury, lightning strikes claimed three lives, and widespread waterlogging disrupted daily life, pushing emergency services into overdrive. As the city reeled under the impact, authorities rushed to mitigate damages, yet the event Hyderabad’s urban landscape bore the brunt of the storm as the city’s drainage systems collapsed under pressure. Traffic across arterial stretches slowed to a crawl as waterlogged roads turned impassable in several localities including Charminar, Basheerbagh, Musheerabad, Banjara Hills, VST crossroads, and Begumpet. Visuals from Malakpet showed a bus submerged in floodwaters, while vehicles parked in Ranigunj were left half-submerged. In Gowliguda, a boundary wall gave way, and in Khairatabad, a fallen tree crushed an autorickshaw. Emergency services received 48 complaints of water stagnation and were compelled to clear 28 fallen trees as part of rapid response.
Even as Disaster Response Force (DRF) and GHMC teams were mobilised promptly, the city’s infrastructural limitations were painfully visible. Residents, stranded and soaked, resorted to pushing their vehicles through ankle-deep to knee-deep waters. From the bustling roads of Tarnaka to the interior stretches of Old Alwal and LB Nagar, the water levels were high enough to interrupt essential services and disrupt public movement. Commuters at major intersections like NMDC and Necklace Road were caught in hours-long gridlocks. A college student from Basheerbagh described elderly individuals struggling to manoeuvre their two-wheelers through flooded lanes, epitomising the emotional and physical strain this downpour placed on citizens.
Senior officials including the DCPs of Rachakonda and Cyberabad confirmed the deployment of additional personnel to ease traffic congestion and coordinate rescue. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) issued instructions for urgent clearance of manholes and blocked catch pits. Warning signs were placed strategically in vulnerable zones, and drainage personnel were stationed at choke points across the city to ensure faster relief. However, despite their swift mobilisation, the storm exposed Hyderabad’s glaring gaps in urban flood preparedness, especially in the wake of increasing climate uncertainties.
This incident not only raises critical questions about the capital’s flood management systems but also urges urban planners to adopt a more climate-resilient and sustainable development model. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent due to shifting climate patterns, the city must prioritise green infrastructure, invest in efficient stormwater management, and focus on inclusive, equitable resilience planning that protects the most vulnerable communities. While the city administration acted swiftly to contain immediate damage, the need for long-term infrastructural overhaul and sustainable city planning has never been more pressing.
