Four persons have been killed in Ramanthapur in Hyderabad, after the wall of a building collapsed on them due to heavy rains. According to officials, another three persons were killed when the roof of a house collapsed in Bholakpur. Several others have also reportedly been injured in incidents across the city.
As the city was pounded by heavy showers on Wednesday morning, with over 6cm of rainfall received in just three hours, numerous areas have been reeling under a variety of problems. Between 6am and 10.30am, the Emergency Services number “100” received 23 complaints of overflowing drains, 41 complaints of waterlogging, one complaint of falling trees, and 3 complaints of wall/building collapses.
Large parts of the city have been without electricity since early in the morning. Moreover, waterlogging has resulted in major traffic blocks around the city. Police and GHMC officials advised the public to stay home and not travel within the city until the rains subsided and water-logged areas were cleared.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rainfall over Telangana in the next 48 hours. Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma has been in emergency meetings with the GHMC Commissioner, the Mayor and other officials to review the situation. The GHMC has announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each person killed in building collapses. CM KCR also expressed grief at the loss of lives due to the showers and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to families of the deceased.
Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao tweeted that the government was closely monitoring the situation in view of more rainfall predicted by the Met Department.
Monitoring the Hyderabad rains & resultant situation with Mayor Rammohan & GHMC Commissioner. Met dept predicting more rains next 24-48hours
— KTR (@KTRTRS) August 31, 2016
The Mayor advised residents living in old and dilapidated buildings to move out of them as soon as possible.
Residents from across the city took to social media with images of waterlogging and flooding from various areas across the city.
@WeAreHyderabad super morning with heavy rains in Hyderabad..... pic.twitter.com/F7mM1VKi7N
— saikrishna reddy (@Vs05537Reddy) August 31, 2016
There may b chances of overflowing of manholes, nalaas. ll be danger, be gallery while travelling#RainsinHyderabad pic.twitter.com/eiOAQnP7Wg
— G Sriniwasa Kumar (@SKNonline) August 31, 2016
This is the Situation at My Friends house in Hyderguda@WeAreHyderabad pic.twitter.com/7oDikvjVgD
— Hari Krishna G (@haryan74) August 31, 2016
@WeAreHyderabad live photos from kummarwadi asifnagar hyd 28 pic.twitter.com/L4kvOkgznc
— praveenkumar (@prawinhansie29) August 31, 2016
(This is a developing story and will be further updated when more details become available)