Hyderabad: Sudden and intense rainfall caught Hyderabad commuters off guard on Thursday, April 3, as the city witnessed relentless showers accompanied by thunderstorms. The unseasonal downpour led to reduced visibility on roads, forcing bikers and pedestrians to take shelter under flyovers. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Hyderabad had earlier forecasted rain for the city and its neighboring districts, with predictions of continued showers in the coming days.
Heavy Traffic and Waterlogging Reported in Key Areas
Several parts of Hyderabad faced severe waterlogging and traffic congestion following the heavy rains. Major traffic snarls were reported in areas like Chaderghat and Malakpet, where continuous downpours resulted in water accumulation under flyovers, particularly at Chaderghat.
Among the areas that experienced heavy rainfall were Banjara Hills, Punjagutta, Jubilee Hills, Masab Tank, Begumpet, Paradise, Trimulgherry, Karkhana, Alwal, Sainikpuri, ECIL Cross Roads, Kapra, Tarnaka, and Habsiguda. Reports also confirmed summer thundershowers in parts of Narayanguda, Himayathnagar, and Khairatabad.
IMD’s Weather Forecast and Alerts
The IMD has predicted that rains will persist across all districts of Telangana, including Hyderabad, until April 6. The ongoing wet spell is expected to bring a notable dip in temperatures, which had been soaring above normal levels in recent weeks.
In its latest advisory, IMD-Hyderabad mentioned, “Maximum temperatures are likely to fall slightly today, with a gradual drop of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius over the next four days.”
For April 3, the department issued a yellow alert (moderate thunderstorm warning), cautioning residents about gusty winds ranging from 40-50 km/h in some areas, while winds of 30-40 km/h are expected in other parts of Telangana. Districts under the yellow alert include Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Medak, Kamareddy, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal.
For April 4, the IMD has upgraded the warning to an orange alert, indicating a high likelihood of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds (40-50 km/h), and hailstorms in Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Medak, and Kamareddy districts. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal districts.
Impact on Daily Life and Precautions Advised
The unexpected showers have disrupted daily routines, causing delays in traffic movement and temporary disruptions in power supply in some areas. The IMD has advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to waterlogging and flooding. Authorities have also urged people to take precautions against lightning and strong winds.
With more rain predicted in the coming days, residents are advised to stay updated with weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during thunderstorms.
