Deluge Of Trouble: Choked Drains Spill Over

Even a brief spell of rain is resulting in waterlogging and never-ending traffic jams in Hyderabad as pre-monsoon works remain pending at several places in the city

- Ujwal Bommakanti & Donita Jose

Soon after the city began to receive light to moderate rains from the second week of June, traffic snarls and waterlogging have once again become a norm despite lessons available from the 2020 and 2021 floods.

While the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) recorded 89 waterlogging points across the city, the Hyderabad Traffic Police website registers 123 waterlogging points. Some of these prominent water logging points include Banjara Hills Road No 12 (Lotus Pond), Bowenpally X Roads, Diamond Point Junction, Mehdipatnam to Attapur bridge, Nampally Station Road, etc.

BOTTLENECKS DUE TO WATER STAGNATION

Experts note the waterlogging points recorded by both the civic body and the traffic police are the bare minimum compared to the actual ground situation.

“Traffic comes to a standstill every time it rains in areas like Begumpet, Jubilee Hills Checkpost, Malakpet, Dilshuknagar. From Madhapur to Hitec City Road, there is a one and half feet water stagnation whenever there is a downpour,” city-based activist Harish Daga told TOI.