HYDERABAD: Normal life was thrown out of gear after heavy rain lashed the twin cities for the fourth consecutive day, leaving low lying areas inundated and creating traffic snarls at almost all junctions in the city. Water logging on major stretches left Hyderabadis fuming at the authorities who seemed to remain mute spectators yet again.
But denizens be prepared for more trouble as the weatherman has predicted rains will continue for the next two days.
The thick downpour lasted for more than two-and-a-half hours from Wednesday afternoon bringing normal life to a grinding halt as roads started flooding. People residing in low lying areas of Khairtabad, Mehdipatnam and areas in old city bore the brunt as rain water entered the houses, causing untold miseries to the residents.
Helpless residents were seen flushing out rain water from houses using vessels and buckets. To add to their woes, overflowing drains in low lying areas led to water logging.
With water gushing on the roads, fear of potholes, and manholes, made the motorists to decelerate, and traffic moved at snail pace. A normal drive which would take just 10 minutes, consumed more than an hour. The cascading effect lasted till late in the evening.
For instance, while the normal travel time to reach Punjagutta crossroad from Khairatabad is 20 minutes, the drive took more than 60 minutes as traffic was disrupted due to water logging.
Pedestrians had a tough time wading through flooded roads. “There are no footpaths at many places, and we have no other option but to wade through knee deep water. All the while I kept thinking if there is a deep pothole and what if there is thick slush which will make me slip into the water,” rued Nidhi A, a student.
Amidst rains, and chaotic traffic, people lost tempers and were seen arguing. “I am already late for an appointment,and this traffic jam will cost me dear,” said Subash, an employee.
“Every time it rains, we are made to suffer. Before monsoon, authorities make tall claims that they are fully prepared and when it starts raining, we are left to struggle,” complained AN Reddy, a resident of Begumpet.