Heavy Rainfall Leaves Hyderabad Struggling: Power Cuts, Waterlogging, and Traffic Snarls Grip the City

Hyderabad was once again brought to a standstill as nearly 100 mm of rainfall lashed the city, leaving roads flooded, traffic paralysed, and entire neighbourhoods in the dark. Commuters were stranded, power cuts disrupted daily life, and emergency services were stretched thin as the city tried to cope with the downpour.

This marks yet another reminder of how quickly urban infrastructure in fast-growing cities collapses under seasonal pressure.

City Buckles Under Sudden Showers

The rainfall began late Wednesday night and intensified through the early hours, flooding arterial roads and low-lying residential areas. Major junctions like Ameerpet, LB Nagar, and Miyapur witnessed severe waterlogging. Vehicles stalled, two-wheelers were swept off roads, and local traffic police struggled to manage the bottlenecks.

Commuters reported delays of up to two hours just to cross a few kilometres, especially during the morning rush.

Power Disruptions Add to Woes

Several parts of the city—especially in residential pockets—faced power outages that lasted for hours. Areas like Kukatpally, Uppal, and Banjara Hills reported multiple disruptions. Officials stated that the electricity cutoffs were precautionary in flood-prone zones to avoid electrocution risks.

However, with no backup systems in place for many homes and small businesses, the outages brought day-to-day activities to a halt.

Drainage System Under Scrutiny

Once again, Hyderabad’s drainage system—or lack thereof—has come under public criticism. With every monsoon spell, roads get submerged within minutes. Locals argue that repeated promises of improving stormwater drains remain unfulfilled.

In areas like Chaderghat and Malkajgiri, residents were seen wading through knee-deep water, while some even used makeshift rafts to cross inner lanes.

Emergency Teams on the Ground

Disaster response teams were deployed in several parts of the city to assist people stuck in vehicles or flooded homes. GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) officials claimed to have cleared over 100 clogged drains overnight, though visuals from social media showed slow response in key locations.

Despite efforts, many citizens felt that basic preparedness was lacking and questioned why early warnings weren’t acted upon more effectively.

Conclusion

Hyderabad’s struggle with rains isn’t new, but the frequency and scale of chaos are growing. For a city that’s rapidly expanding in population and development, its drainage, power, and traffic systems remain fragile. Unless these long-standing civic issues are addressed, every spell of rain will likely bring more than just water—it’ll bring gridlock, darkness, and frustration.