The first rainfall of the season has drowned the tall claims of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Central Discom on its preparedness for the monsoon. Power supply tripped in over 100 localities in the city and urban pockets of Ranga Reddy district due to the rain. Though Central discom officials claimed that power supply was restored within an hour in all affected areas, residents complained that the localities were plunged in darkness for hours together.
Citizens complained that despite electricity officials’ claims on inspections being carried out on every line every month, the power supply goes off with a few drops of rain. “The power supply that went off at 5 pm was not restored even when I returned home at 10 pm,” said V. Srinivas from Padmaraonagar.
Deccan Chronicle reader C. Raju of Salarjung colony, Mehdipatnam, said there was no power at the Salarjung Colony since 4.30 pm. When he contacted the sub station and Central power department, there were no response. Waterlogging was reported at 24 places despite GHMC claiming to have provided storm water drain system to prevent water logging on main roads. Complaints of overflowing drains and manholes were received from 26 localities in the city. Waterlogging on main roads were reported from Amberpet Graveyard Main Road, Toli Chowki Junction, Hakim Shah Colony, Khairatabad Petrol bunk, Nampally, Aghapura, Langer Houz, Lakdi ka pul, Lucky Hotel, King Kothi Crossroad, Lokayukta Basheerbagh, Vengal Rao Park Banjara Hills, Nallakunta, MJ Market, Madhuranagar, Yousufguda, Mehdipatnam Pillar number 23.
Water entered a few houses in Aghapura, Langer Houz and Malakpet. A resident of Langer Houz lodged a complaint with GHMC south zone control room stating that rainwater had flooded an old building leading to panic in the neighbourhood that the building would collapse if the rain continued. Traffic DCP T.V.S Ramakrishna said there were traffic jams from Chaderghat to Malakpet due to overflowing on Chaderghat old bridge. Although the GHMC set up control rooms claiming to work round the clock, no one answered phone calls at three of the six monsoon emergency control rooms.