Seven killed in rain-related incidents in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (PTI) At least seven persons includingfour children were killed today in two separate rain-relatedincidents following heavy downpour in the city since morningwhich has caused water-logging in many areas and broughttraffic to a standstill in most parts of the city. Four members of a family including two kids and theirparents died after a wall collapsed on their hut atRamanthapur area, Deputy Commissioner of Police (MalkajgiriZone) E Ramachandra Reddy told PTI, adding the victims weresleeping when the incident occurred. In another incident, three members of a family including awoman and her two daughters died when the roof of their housecollapsed in Bholakpur area, Deputy Commissioner of Police(Central Zone) VB Kamalhasan Reddy said. Another building collapsed at Lal Darwaja in Old City,but no one was injured. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy instructed officials thatpeople staying in old and dilapidated buildings be evacuatedimmediately to save lives. Due to heavy rains water-logging was reported at severalplaces and GHMC teams were clearing stagnated points atNampally, Secunderabad station, Khairatabad and other areas. Following heavy rains, massive traffic congestions werereported between L B Nagar to Malakpet, Moosarambagh,Yakutpura, Uppal, Tarnaka, various localities underSecunderabad, Secretariat, Mehdipatnam, Lakadi-ka-Pul,Punjagutta among other areas. Office goers had a tough time commuting to work withseveral roads overflowing while many residential areas inlow-lying areas also got inundated due to heavy rains. Due to heavy rains and water-logging at Hyderabad andSecunderabad area, 10 MMTS (local) trains betweenHyderabad-Lingampalli were cancelled and 3 MMTS servicesbetween Hyderabad-Lingampalli were partially cancelled. However, on restoration of normalcy four MMTS specialtrains were run between Hyderabad-Lingampalli to clear thestranded passengers, South Central Railway officials said. Amberpet received maximum rainfall of 118 mm in thecity. Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma was monitoringthe situation. PTI VVK DKMNGRYS