Heavy rains cripple normal life in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 21 (PTI) Heavy rains in Hyderabad sincelast night have thrown normal life out of gear as waterentered low lying areas creating huge traffic blocks at mostof the important locations and junctions and forcing people tovacate their houses. According to a release from Telangana Chief Minister KChandrasekhar Rao’s office, he has instructed officials touse services of Army and Disaster management teams to controlthe situation. The Chief Minister is presently camping in the nationalcapital for the Apex Committee meeting on river water sharingbetween Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but reviewed thesituation back home with the help of senior officials. The CM also asked the officials to take necessary steps toevacuate people from low lying areas if required. Commuters had a tough time reaching their destinationwith traffic blocks in several areas due to water logging. According to a senior Greater Hyderabad MunicipalCorporation official, about 4000 cusecs of water has beenreleased from Hussain Sagar lake due to the incessant rains. GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy said people stranded ininundated areas may call for boat services offered by NationalDisaster Response teams. In the wake of prediction of heavy rainfall, the HyderabadTraffic police has advised people not to venture on to theroads unless urgent. According to an official release, Southwest monsoon isvigorous over Telangana and as a result, heavy to very heavyrains are likely to occur at isolated places in Telanganaover the next two days. PTI GDK DKTIRRYS