Hyderabad rain: No let-up in rain fury, government seeks Army help

HYDERABAD: The state government on Thursday sought the Army's help for rescue operations as the meteorological department forecast more heavy rains over the next two days.
Authorities said they were exploring possibility of evacuations with flood waters inundating new areas in the city forcing closure of schools for two days amid heavy rainfall for the second day on Thursday.GHMC additional commissioner, information technology, Surendra Mohan told TOI that they held a meeting with Army's top officials and sought help for rescue operations in the city . “We sought the Army's help because they have the required equipment and skill to deal with natural calamities like floods. The Army personnel will survey the inundated areas on Thursday night and Friday morning for a first-hand assessment of the situation,“ Mohan said.

The water levels in the Hussainsagar were flowing close to the full tank level prompting authorities to identify mandals that could get flooded with release of water. “We have received 4,000 cusecs of inflows and have released equal amount of water to keep things in check. But if it rains more, there could be trouble,“ an official warned.

The water level in the 450 year-old lake stood at 513.78 against its full tank level of 513.41.
The Met department said a well-marked low pressure stationed off the Andhra Pradesh coast was like to bring more rains to the city. “It is highly likely that there would be heavy rainfall in the city for the next three days,“ Y K Reddy , director (in-charge), IMD, told TOI.

Chief meteorologist, Skymet, Mahesh Palawat said moderate to heavy showers were expected in many parts of Telangana, including Hyderabad. “Other regions of the state are also likely to experience heavy to very heavy showers for another 48 hours.'' As a precautionary measure, all private and government schools have been told to remain shut for the next two days, said G Kishan, director of school education.

Earlier in the day, sudden showers and gales uprooted trees, while a dilapidated house collapsed as residential pockets of Qutubullapur, Alwal and Malkajgiri were submerged. “The rains have flooded our homes and inundated the roads. Water from lakes is entering our basements and homes. Our vehicles are currently submerged and we cannot move out,“ said Suresh Kumar, a resident of East Anandbagh.

Sudden afternoon showers accompanied by gales blown down trees and within an hour, West Mareddpally (31mm ), Chilakalaguda (30 mm) and Monda Market (28.7 mm) received heavy localised rains, while Srinagar Colony, Trimulgherry , Balanagar, and Narayanguda were pounded by over 20 mm rain. Amid blinding rain and winds, a dilapidated house and a as hoorkhana collapsed in Yakutpura and Rein Bazar respectively .Traffic crawled across the city even as municipal administration and urban development minister K T Rama Rao made a whirlwind tour of some of the worst-affected areas in Allamthota Baavi and Mayuri Marg at Begumpet, where hundreds of houses were inundated after the Begumpet nala overflowed.
“It has been two days and we are living on whatever supplies we are left with as going out is impossible,“ said Raghupathi Rao, a resident of Brahmanwadi Similarly , residents of areas like Kukatpally , Moosapet, Allwyn Colony , Sai Baba Colony , Dharani Nagar were struggling as water from the Yellamma Banda lake gushed into their homes All parks managed by HMDA were shut and police and National Disaster Response Force was asked to be on standby . The health department issued directives to all hospitals to stock medicines and be on high alert.