Streets turned into streams, cars crawled bumper to bumper, and umbrellas were no match for the sideways sheets of rain. That was Monday evening in Hyderabad — soaked, stuck, and searching for answers.
What started as a light drizzle quickly morphed into a downpour, plunging India’s tech capital into another bout of urban paralysis.
Orange Alert Issued, But City Was Already Underwater
By the time the IMD issued its orange alert for Hyderabad, many residents were already waist-deep in floodwater or marooned in snarled traffic.
The alert came with forecasts of moderate to heavy rain, gusty winds, and light thunderstorms. But on the ground, things felt far more intense.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) rainfall tracking system showed that between 3:30 PM and 6 PM, certain zones recorded rainfall exceeding 70 mm — a spike high enough to flood drains and low-lying neighborhoods in under an hour.
Tech Corridor Slows to a Crawl
Gachibowli, Hitec City, Madhapur — the pulse of Hyderabad’s IT engine — witnessed near-total gridlock by 5 PM. With rain pelting down and stormwater drains overflowing, even Google Maps couldn’t keep up with the delays.
“From our office in Financial District to Jubilee Hills took 2 hours. Usually takes 25 minutes,” said Krithi Menon, a software developer who abandoned her Uber midway and decided to walk through knee-deep water instead.
Adding to the mayhem, several IT firms issued alerts by 6:15 PM asking employees to log off early or prepare to work remotely for the next 24 hours.
Commuters Caught Off Guard, Again
As usual, the worst-hit were those without the luxury of remote work.
Auto drivers, domestic workers, roadside vendors — many of them slogged through flooded intersections or simply waited under awnings, hoping the water would recede.
“There’s no warning till it’s already happening,” said 58-year-old Javed Sheikh, who pushes a vegetable cart near Mehdipatnam. “We live here. We know this pattern. But still — every time, it hits like a slap.”
Local buses operated on a skeletal schedule, with drivers forced to take circuitous routes to avoid submerged stretches like Nampally, Ameerpet, and LB Nagar.
Here’s What the Data Showed
To understand the breadth of the damage, here’s a snapshot of key figures from Monday’s deluge:
| Zone | Rainfall (mm) | Major Issues Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Serilingampally | 74.2 | Traffic gridlock, waterlogging in Hitec City |
| Banjara Hills | 65.8 | Trees uprooted, minor landslide reports |
| Begumpet | 68.4 | Airport access roads partially flooded |
| Mehdipatnam | 61.5 | Drain overflow, shop flooding |
| Uppal | 59.0 | Power outages, slow vehicular movement |
Officials say rainfall crossed the 50 mm “danger threshold” in at least 11 localities.
Stormwater Drains Once Again Prove Inadequate
For all of Hyderabad’s urban growth, its underground drains are still stuck in the past.
GHMC engineers admitted that most parts of the city are serviced by 20- to 30-year-old drainage lines. Many are either choked with silt or simply not wide enough to handle such sudden water volumes.
A GHMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We’ve mapped all critical flood-prone zones. But with back-to-back constructions and zero green cover, the water just has nowhere to go.”
Residents in Toli Chowki, Malakpet, and Balanagar reported sewage mixing with rainwater, raising fresh concerns about waterborne diseases.
Social Media Flooded Too — But With Complaints
Hyderabadis took to X (formerly Twitter) with videos of motorbikes floating, autorickshaws stalling mid-intersection, and pedestrians slipping on slimy flyovers.
Trending hashtags by 7 PM included:
• #HyderabadRains
• #WaterloggedCity
• #GHMCAlert
One clip of a car nearly tipping into an open manhole on Necklace Road was viewed over 1.2 million times in under 3 hours.
And while city authorities tried to respond, their official handles were overwhelmed with tagging sprees from frustrated citizens demanding immediate action.
GHMC’s Emergency Response Team on the Move
To their credit, disaster response teams did swing into action. By 7 PM:
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Over 30 motor pumps had been deployed to drain key intersections
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22 fallen trees were cleared
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Traffic police diverted 14 routes to ease congestion
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Temporary barricades were erected near flooded underpasses
But many residents felt it was too little, too late.
“There’s a flood every August. Why is the city always surprised?” asked college student Aditya Rao, wading through water near Charminar.
Schools May Go Online if Rain Persists
With more showers expected overnight, many schools are considering shifting to online classes temporarily.
Some private institutions in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and Tarnaka already notified parents Monday evening that classes will be held virtually if waterlogging continues.
Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has forecast more moderate rainfall through Tuesday afternoon.
What Next?
That’s the question every drenched citizen was asking as they tried to dry their shoes Monday night.
Officials insist the drainage master plan is underway and will take shape by 2026. But that doesn’t help a delivery boy stuck on a flooded road or a nurse trying to reach Osmania General on a delayed bus.
Until then, it’s the same story — different rainclouds.
