Heavy rains pound Hyderabad, streets flooded, residents pray for relief
Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana reeled under heavy rainfall, triggered by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal. The IT city's streets were flooded, cars floated in the water, and at least 15 people died in downpour-related incidents. Several areas suffered due to power-cut. The weakened depression entered Telangana after traversing Andhra Pradesh and is likely to move toward Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Hyderabad witnessed wettest October day since 1903
Hyderabad hasn't witnessed such an unprecedented downpour since 1903. Throughout Tuesday, the city saw heavy rainfall; by Wednesday 8:30 am the rain was recorded at 191.8 mm in just 24 hours. The MeT department issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad, saying that the upcoming 12 hours are extremely crucial. People were asked to stay indoors with the state government declaring a holiday today and tomorrow.
IMD explained what triggered sudden rainfall in Hyderabad
"Depression over western parts of Telangana near latitude 17.7°N and longitude 78.1°E, about 50 km west of Hyderabad (Telangana) is a potential cause of the sudden outpour of rainwater in the city and surrounding areas," IMD said, as per Deccan Chronicle.
NDRF, SDRF teams tasked with rescue operations
The extent of damage caused by rains was seen on social media, where pictures from the Hyderabad streets didn't stop coming in. NDRF and SDRF teams were tasked with evacuating people from low-lying areas. From Toli Chowki's Nadeem colony, over 600 people from 170 homes were rescued using boats. Parked cars were drowned in the rainwater; in some places, four-wheelers were overturned.
The city woke up to horrifying visuals
Strong current swept man away, scared eye-witnesses couldn't help
In the most dramatic video to have emerged from Hyderabad, a man was seen being washed away by the floodwater in Barkas, near Falaknuma. He tried holding on to anything to save himself, but the strong currents drove him away. Eye-witnesses screamed but the fear kept them away from helping the man. Trees and poles were uprooted as well.
The clip can be viewed here
Two-month-old among those who died in Hyderabad
Further, in a heart-wrenching incident, nine people, including a two-month-old, died last night after a compound wall collapsed. The situation in Telangana is being closely monitored by CM K Chandrasekhar Rao. In neighboring Andhra Pradesh, 10 people died due to rain-related incidents in the last 48 hours. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy held a high-level meeting and also ordered compensation for the bereaved families.
Heavy rainfall expected in Maharashtra and Karnataka
Worryingly, the latest IMD bulletin suggested that other states must also brace themselves for a downpour. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Madhya Maharashtra, south Konkan, Goa, and Coastal and North Interior Karnataka. Isolated places in Marathawada, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe could also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. The depression over Telangana reportedly moved westward.
