Scary time for Secunderabad Cantonment as lakes overflow

Hyderabad: About 2,000 families residing in low-lying areas near Hasmathpet lake and Ramannakunta lake -- the two century-old water bodies in Secunderabad Cantonment -- fled their homes on Friday morning after the overflowing water entered their homes. Both lakes are located in Bowenpally area in the cantonment.
Hasmathpet lake began to breach its banks at about 5 am after continuous rains over three days and the excess water inundated the streets.Water flodded a residential area, Anjaiah Colony, located adjacent to Hasmathpet lake in the wee hours when people were asleep. Soon after, a 'Quick Response Team' (QRT) deployed by the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) alerted the locals. Water also flooded other low-lying areas, including SAIL Colony, Bank Colony, and ICRISAT Colony.
"When the QRT team personnel alerted us, we rushed out and saw water level in the street rise, and in the next 10 minutes it was gushing into our homes," K Ramaiah, resident of Anjaiah Colony told TOI.
After three hours, the water receded, he said. Housewife T Usha said, "I woke up at around 5 am and alerted my family after water entered our house."
Another resident, Joseph said, Alwal police blocked traffic in Sai Sagar Enclave, Trimulgherry in the morning following dangerous sewage overflow from the Alwal-Bon Cheruvu nala. Families living in colonies of Ramannakunta lake also got the scare of their lives. The SCB authorities later dug a parallel trench and released excess water into manholes. Soujanya Colony, Seetharampur, Sundariah Nagar and other areas were affected by the flooding in Ramannakunta lake.
Water found its way in Saraswathi Nagar in Lothukunta too due to the overflowing of Alwal water body. Others areas of Indira Nagar, Anna Nagar in Rasoolpura also had to put up with the overflow from a nearby nala. "The SEC has identified certain low-lying areas as vulnerable. We have kept ready shelters at SCB circles offices and even community halls to house affected families," a SCB-health and sanitation wing official told TOI. Meanwhile, houses at Vaibahvnagar in Amberpet, Mallepally in Asifnagar, Chappal Bazar in Himayathnagar also saw inundation after the latest rain.
The Hyderabad district administration was monitoring on an hourly basis the Hussainsagar, which has reached the danger mark.