Still, under sheets of water

Hyderabad: The inconsistent rain during the last two-three days across the state capital has been causing untold misery to people, as many areas are inundated.

A large number of vehicles are found stranded on the roads, leading to heavy traffic jams lasting two hours. It is more so in areas like as Hitech City, Jubilee Hills, Gachibowli, Rai Durgam, Kothaguda, Secunderabad, Begumpet, Yususfguda, Balkampet, Dilsukhnagar and LB Nagar.

As the Secunderabad-Begumpet route is chock-a-block with vehicles, people chose the Sanjeeviah Park Road to move ahead, leading to traffic snarls on the Jalavihar Road on Monday. Many trees were uprooted in Madhura Heights-Motinagar and Jubilee Hills Road 35 among others. Many cars were found damaged in Madhura Heights-Motinagar and Jubilee Hills among other areas. Teams of GHMC MET and DRF rescued many people who fell off their two-wheelers in the rain.

The highest rainfall (in mm) recorded on Monday was in Jubilee Hills (67.5) followed by Gachibowli (61.8), Sujathanagar (61.3), Madhapur (60), Shaikpet (59), Madanapalle (57.3), Kukatpally (56.5), Secunderabad (49.5), Kandukur (49.3), Gummadidala (48), Monda Market (45.3), Nampally (43.75), Tirumalgiri (43.5), Balanagar (43), Himayatnagar (40.75), Musheerabad (40.5), Kandukur (39.3) and Secunderabad Cantonment (38.5).

GHMC Commissioner D S Lokesh Kumar announced that re-carpeting of damaged roads would be taken up after a week once the rain recedes. Daily about 50 to 60 tonnes of BT was being generated to repair pot-holes, he stated, in a official release. He said around 1.25 lakh houses were covered with fogging and spraying to control seasonal diseases.

He claimed that dengue cases were decreasing daily. Till now 1,043 cases were reported. For the past couple of days, there were about 40 cases daily, as against 100-120 in the past. From October 2 onwards GHMC would actively participate in implementing the ban on single use of plastic. A special drive would be conducted and awareness created among the citizens not to use plastic.

The GHMC was in the process of finding various options how to recycle used plastic. The release said in connection with the Dasara and 'Bathukamma' festivals, small ponds were being readied and steps taken to divert the pond water to the nearest STP, instead of letting into lakes, as it further pollutes.

It asserted that there was no dearth of funds in GHMC, as the property tax collection was Rs.200 crore, more than last year. The Town Planning revenue was also increasing by issuing building permission. 

Rainfall recorded (in mm)

Jubilee Hills (67.5); Gachibowli (61.8); Sujathanagar (61.3); Madhapur (60); Shaikpet (59); Madanapalle (57.3); Kukatpally (56.5); Secunderabad (49.5); Kandukur (49.3); Gummadidala (48); Monda Market (45.3); Nampally (43.75); Tirumalgiri (43.5); Balanagar (43); Himayatnagar (40.75); Musheerabad (40.5); Kandukur (39.3); and Cantonment (38.5)