Hyderabad, June 10: Two youths lost their lives after being electrocuted while heavy Southwest Monsoon rains and thunderstorms battered Hyderabad on Tuesday evening, causing widespread waterlogging, traffic congestion, and disruption across the city.
The deceased were identified as Zafar (25) and Abu (16), residents of the Old City. The tragic incident occurred in the Bandlaguda area when the two stepped out of an auto-rickshaw and came into contact with a live electric wire submerged under rainwater on the road.
According to preliminary reports, the electric wire had snapped due to strong winds and heavy rainfall. The victims were electrocuted instantly, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The intense downpour, which lasted for nearly two hours in several areas, inundated roads across Hyderabad, Secunderabad, the IT corridors of Madhapur and Gachibowli, and several suburban localities, leading to massive traffic snarls during peak evening hours.
Waterlogging was reported at numerous locations, including BRK Bhavan near the Secretariat, Karbala Maidan in Secunderabad, Radisson Junction in the IT corridor, near Pillar No. 265 of the PVNR Expressway, and the PNR Building in Kukatpally.
One of the city’s major traffic bottlenecks emerged at the Nayani Narasimha Reddy Steel Bridge, where heavy water accumulation disrupted vehicular movement. Waterlogging was also reported on the Shaikpet bridge ramp connecting Toli Chowki to the IT corridor.
Huge traffic jams were witnessed in Madhapur, Gachibowli, Raidurgam, Miyapur, and surrounding areas, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.
Teams from the Disaster Response Force (DRF), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and the traffic police were deployed across the city to clear water stagnation and restore normalcy.
Police officials monitored vulnerable locations and regulated traffic movement while advising motorists to drive cautiously, maintain safe distances, avoid sudden braking, and follow traffic instructions.
The heavy rainfall also caused damage to infrastructure. An old arch collapsed in the Chattabazar area of the Old City. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.
Strong winds accompanying the rain uprooted and damaged trees at nearly 80 locations across Hyderabad. Municipal workers worked late into the night to remove fallen trees and clear blocked roads.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath personally inspected several rain-affected areas and monitored ongoing operations to remove waterlogging and fallen trees, particularly near Tank Bund and other vulnerable zones.
According to rainfall data, Bansilalpet recorded the highest rainfall of 8.7 cm during the spell. Vithalwadi and Himayatnagar received 7.8 cm each, while Vidyanagar recorded 7.3 cm of rainfall.
The first major monsoon spell has once again exposed Hyderabad’s recurring challenges of urban flooding and drainage management, even as civic authorities intensified efforts to manage the situation and minimize inconvenience to residents.
