Rain batters City

Incessant rains lashed the state capital on Thursday, inundating several areas and throwing normal life out of gear towards the evening. According to the Meteorological Department, 4.5 cm of rainfall in the city was recorded till 8.30 pm. Although it drizzled for most part of the day, in the evening, particularly between 5 and 8 pm, there was heavy downpour, causing severe inconvenience to commuters and people living in low-lying areas. The GHMC's emergency control wing was flooded with calls from people complaining about inundation in various areas. It is estimated that about 50 areas were swamped across the city.

Overflowing open drains multiplied people's woes. Vehicular traffic went haywire even in thoroughfares and central parts of the city as almost all the roads were waterlogged. Traffic and GHMC personnel opened manholes on a few busy routes to facilitate early drainage of water. A family in Mirchowk had a miraculous escape when a portion of their old building collapsed. In view of forecast of further heavy rain, an emergency control room (040-23202813) has been set up in the Hyderabad Collectorate to receive complaints.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Thursday announced the cancellation of services on the Shamshabad-Gannavaram route due to bad weather conditions, following incessant rains. Two aircraft, one of Spice Jet, carrying 68 passengers, and the other of Air Jetways, with 38 passengers, were reverted to their origins due to unsuitable conditions for landing in Gannavaram.