Incessant rains inundate more areas in Hyderabad

The authorities sounded an alert in Hyderabad and its outskirts as incessant rains overnight flooded more residential colonies.

The Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were gearing up for rescue and relief work in the marooned areas in Greater Hyderabad.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials said that services of the Army and NDRF would be used in the worst affected areas like Alwal, Nizampet, Miyapur and Begumpet.

Rains continued to pound the city throughout the night, inundating new areas. Officials said Moulali area received 22.5 cm rainfall till 7 a.m. on Friday. This is the highest rainfall in nearly two decades.

Several other parts of the city received four to seven cm rainfall on Thursday night.

Telangana ministers and top officials visited various parts of the city till Friday morning to monitor the situation. Emergency teams of the GHMC were pressed into service.

The incessant rains brought life in the city and outskirts to a standstill with overflowing lakes and storm water drains inundating residential colonies and roads.

Authorities have declared two-day holiday for educational institutions as a precautionary measure. The government has also requested information technology companies to provide 'work from home' option to their employees.

Police have advised citizens not to come out of their houses unless necessary.

With the Met office forecasting more rains over Saturday and Sunday, the government sounded an alert. People living in dilapidated buildings were advised to vacate them.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who reviewed the situation from Delhi on Thursday, directed officials to shift people from low-lying areas to safe places.

People in some colonies in Begumpet, Alwal, Nizampet and Miyapur remained under water for a third consecutive day on Friday. The overnight rains further added to their woes.

The rising level in Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city is also causing concern. The water level stood at 513.8 feet against the full tank level of 514.7 feet.

With huge quantity of water being let out of the lake, people living along surplus channels have been alerted.

--IANS

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