City reels under rain pain

​Hyderabad: The Indian Metrological Department on Thursday warned of heavy rainfall in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana in the next three days. Heavy rain is also likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Adilabad, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Warangal, the IMD said.

According to IMD, areas like Begumpet, Tolichowki, Alwal, Nizampet and Hakimpet may witness heavy to very heavy rains. The Army officials have been informed about the prevailing situation and have been requested to help the civic authorities during emergency, said GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy.

The Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is in New Delhi, spoke to the GHMC Commissioner and asked him to take the help of Indian Army to rescue the public stuck in submerged areas. The weather office said medium rainfall was recorded in Hyderabad on Thursday, with Marredpally receiving 1.32 cm, Trimulgherry 1.32 cm, Bahadurpura 1.22 cm, Yacharam 5.04 cm and Medchal 3.96 cm of rain.

Heavy traffic jams were seen at Punjagutta, Lakdikapul, Saifabad, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Begumpet, Karkhana, Mehdipatnam, Rethi Bowli, Afzal Gunj, Nallakunta, Narayanguda, Liberty, Balanagar, Madhapur, Gachibowli, Hi-tech city road, Kukatpally, KPHB, Alwal, Malakpet, Koti and other areas. The commuters were at their wits end as it took about one hour to travel a distance of less than a kilometre.

Government also announced closure of Lumbini Park and NTR Gardens for the visitors, keeping in view the heavy rainfall.The Hyderabad Traffic Police on Thursday appealed the public to avoid the routes of water logging which could cause heavy traffic jams during rains.

They include Punjagutta - Lake View Guest house on Rajbhavan road, near Model House and KCP junction, Khairatabad RTA office; SR Nagar – Erragadda Rythu Bazaar, Balkampet and Maitrivanam; Jubilee Hills – At Neeru’s showroom, Road No 36 to 100 at Madhapur Arch, between Usha Kiran & Peddamma temple; Begumpet – Opposite to Bombay Hotel at Ranigunj Crossroads, opposite to Begumpet traffic police station;

Banjara Hills - Near Mylan showroom, at road No 12; Saifabad - Near Rajiv Gandhi Statue, Lakdikapul; Chikkadpally – Opposite to Chikkadpally police station, Sai Raja Theatre in Musheerabad; Abids - Near Endowment Office at Boggulkunta, near Eden Garden at King Koti; Narayanguda – At Minerva Hotel in Himayathnagar; Oliphant Bridge, Chilkalguda X roads, between Graveyard & road under bridge between Alugaddabavi and Chilkalguda.

In order to prevent untoward incidents due to the heavy rains, the GHMC officials on Thursday demolished 13 dilapidated buildings at various places. Meanwhile, the government and GHMC authorities advised the citizens not to venture out following weather forecast of heavy to very heavy rain in next 48 hours. Municipal Administration Minister K Taraka Rama Rao, accompanied by Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy and others, the visited Mayur Marg, Allamthotabavi and other areas.