Heavy rains cripple normal life in Hyderabad

Heavy rains in Hyderabad since last night have thrown normal life out of gear as water entered low lying areas creating huge traffic blocks at most of the important locations and junctions and forcing people to vacate their houses.
According to a release from Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's office, he has instructed officials to use services of Army and Disaster management teams to control the situation.
The Chief Minister is presently camping in the national capital for the Apex Committee meeting on river water sharing between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but reviewed the situation back home with the help of senior officials.

The CM also asked the officials to take necessary steps to evacuate people from low lying areas if required.
Commuters had a tough time reaching their destination with traffic blocks in several areas due to water logging.
According to a senior Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation official, about 4000 cusecs of water has been released from Hussain Sagar lake due to the incessant rains.

GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy said people stranded in inundated areas may call for boat services offered by National Disaster Response teams.
In the wake of prediction of heavy rainfall, the Hyderabad Traffic police has advised people not to venture on to the roads unless urgent.

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Meanwhile, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner B Janardhana Reddy said Hyderabad city has witnessed about 164mm rainfall during last night resulting in several localities getting inundated.
Inflows in some tanks including Hussain Sagar lake have reached Full Tank Level and further the forecast for tonight is likely recurrence of heavy rains, he said in a letter to NDRF Commandant (Andhra and Telangana area), based at Guntur, with requisition of NDRF for rescue and relief operations.
In view of this, Reddy requested the NDRF Commandant to alert their contingent in Hyderabad and render possible help to the civil authority from tonight onwards till the heavy rains are receded.