Cloud-burst cripples city; trees, poles, billboards uprooted

The cloud burst, accompanied by thunder and lighting in Hyderabad in the early hours of Friday not only gave much-needed relief to the citizens from the hot spell, but also caused havoc by felling walls, trees and brought down roofs across the city.

Several parts of the Old City were flooded and power supply went off as trees and power poles uprooted. However, there was no loss of life but caused damage to property. Four persons were hospitalized with injuries in the hitec city Madhapur.

Due to the downpour from early hours, several parts of the city like Miyapur, Madhapur, Rayadurgam, Gacchibowli, LB Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Hayatnagar were inundated with the rain water. Huge trees and cut-outs were uprooted by the strong winds from the Telugu Thalli flyover, Secretariat and Indira Park. GHMC officials along with Traffic police diverted the vehicular traffic. Roads were inundated with the flood waters at Government Printing Press, Musheerabad, Chikkadpally, RTC crossroads, Parsigutta, Chilkalguda, Addagutta, Begumpet, Bowenpally, Alwal, Trimulgherry and other areas. Trees fell and billboards crashed into the streets at NTR Marg, Qutubullahpur and Koti. The GHMC’s emergency crews were unable to remove the obstructions on Friday morning, and the regulation rush hour traffic tied itself up into a gridlock all over the city. A petrol pump caught fire in the downpour at Moghalpura in the old city. The India Meteorological Department in Hyderabad forecast cloudy skies on Friday too and a possible thunder or dust storm in the evening.

In Nalgonda district, railway track in Valigonda mandal was damaged due to the downpour. With this, Repalle-Kacheguda Delta Passenger was detained. However, the train traffic was restored after carrying out repairs to the damaged track. (NSS)