Hyderabad, August 27: While many areas in the extended metropolis continue to flood after a downpour, authorities at the Hyderabad District Collectorate indicated that the traffic management systems may not be enough to control snarls in the case of heavy rains. Periods of heavy rainfall accompanied by power cuts, especially towards the evenings has been causing traffic disruptions in busy interchanges in the Twin Cities. While pockets of water collected in the undulations of major arteries like S P Road have proved to be a bugbear for the traffic returning from the Banjara Hills–HiTec City side, Somajiguda, Khairatabad, R P Road and suburban localities are also reeling under the wrath of the rain gods.
While fingers have been pointed repeatedly at the city authorities like the GHMC, Hyderabad District officials claimed on Wednesday that the situation is “well under control” for the time being.
Hyderabad District Collectorate authorities said that till date, the rains have not resulted in any deaths, and the situation is being monitored by the various departments of the administrative body, with officials from the health department and GHMC officers pitching in to help in the monitoring process.
“Though inundation operations are being conducted in low lying areas and risk prone slums, the people are being relocated back to their homes in a matter of hours after the water is driven out,” claimed sources at the District Collectorate.
In this connection, Home Minister Sabita Indira Reddy has been conducting meetings with concerned officials of the GHMC and traffic police in the district for speedy execution of rescue and maintenance operations. In a recent meeting, Sabita Reddy reportedly instructed officials to be on alert to tackle any untoward incidents caused due to the rains.
Cracking the proverbial whip on officials, Reddy had also noted that a comprehensive rescue mechanism needs to be initiated to tackle potentials crisis situations in the city.
Incidentally, a round-the-clock emergency cell has been initiated to tackle emergencies by district officials, and may be reached for rain related queries and help at 040- 2320-2813.
–Agencies–