Intense rains, strong winds hit Hyderabad
HYDERABAD MAIL NETWORK
HYDERABAD: The city witnessed sudden intense rains accompanied by strong winds in West Hyderabad on Sunday. The downpour began around 6 p.m., spreading across Patancheru, Lingampally, Miyapur, JNTU, Hafeezpet, Kondapur, Gachibowli, Nanakramguda, and Manikonda over the next hour.
Thunder clouds moved into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area from the eastern side on Sunday evening. Moderate rain fell in parts of the city for almost three hours. The storm intensified, reaching Kapra, Dammaiguda, Neredmet, Sainikpuri, ECIL, and Cherlapally, and is expected to extend to Malkajgiri, Moula Ali, Tarnaka, Nacharam, OU, and Secunderabad. While the rain was brief, South Hyderabad experienced heavy rain accompanied by strong winds.
The sudden downpour resulted in fallen trees and waterlogged roads in various parts of the city. Disaster Response Teams (DRT) promptly responded to clear water stagnation and fallen trees. Additionally, the sudden rains caused power outages in many areas.
The DRT teams had alerted citizens about the rainfall a few hours before it hit and urged them to contact GHMC-DRF assistance at 040-21111111 or 9000113667.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
