Hyderabad and its suburbs grappled with heavy rainfall, causing chaos in the city's transportation networks. The downpour, accompanied by hailstorms in some areas, brought relief from scorching temperatures but left a trail of traffic chaos and tragedy in its wake. The deluge turned fatal in Hyderabad's Bachupally area as a retaining wall at an under-construction apartment collapsed, claiming the lives of seven individuals, including a four-year-old child. The victims, migrant workers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, were tragically trapped under the debris until early morning, when rescue efforts recovered their bodies.
Vehicular standstill and GHMC response
Torrential rain inundated roads and caused traffic disruptions across Hyderabad. Fallen trees and flooded streets compounded the chaos, leading to hours-long traffic jams. Emergency teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were deployed to clear waterlogged areas and remove fallen trees, but traffic snarls persisted throughout the night.
Traffic gridlock across the city
Central Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and key IT hubs like Madhapur and Gachibowli witnessed kilometers-long traffic jams, exacerbating commuters' woes. The IT corridor, from the Raidurgam Biodiversity junction to IKEA, was particularly affected, with vehicles barely inching forward amidst the gridlock.
Ripple effects beyond Hyderabad
The adverse weather conditions extended beyond Hyderabad, affecting districts like Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Mulugu. This comes after several days of severe heatwave conditions in various parts of Telangana, with temperatures soaring above 46 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Forecast and outlook
The weather office predicted more rain and thunderstorms across Telangana, offering a mixed bag of relief and potential challenges for residents and authorities grappling with the aftermath of the deluge.
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