Hyderabad faces severe waterlogging as heavy rains hit; Citizens question GHMC’s readiness
Hyderabad: Heavy rains in Hyderabad on May 21, 2025, led to widespread waterlogging, raising concerns among the citizens about the preparedness of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) ahead of the monsoon season. Many residents have called on the GHMC to identify and address low-lying areas prone to waterlogging before the full monsoon hits.
A post shared on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) by the Cyberabad Residence (@CyberabadResid1) highlighted the issue, with a video showing waterlogged roads at Link Road 16, opposite the GHMC Serilingampally office. The post questioned the GHMC's readiness, saying, "How ready is #GHMC??? Everywhere waterlogging." In response, the GHMC's official Twitter account acknowledged the issue, stating that the problem had been brought to the attention of the concerned officials, including the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Executive Engineer (EE) for the area.
How ready is #Ghmc????
Everywhere water logging
Below video is from link road 16 opp @dc_slp20 .@CommissionrGHMC @GHMCOnline @gadwalvijayainc @CEC_EVDM @TelanganaCMO @SrinivasBellam @sudhakarudumula @DeccanChronicle @HiHyderabad @HyderabadMojo @KTRBRS @TOIHyderabad pic.twitter.com/06HtTMvxq0— Cyberabad Residence (@CyberabadResid1) May 22, 2025
Several residents also voiced their concerns. Krishna Chaitanya suggested that rainwater runoff could be managed better. He proposed capturing rainwater through filters and routing the excess to harvesting pits, which could help increase groundwater levels and reduce urban flooding. Another resident, Rdot, pointed out that the situation had been ongoing since the construction of the Link Road, adding that the waterlogging problem persisted every monsoon season.
Speaking to the Hyderabad Mail, Krishna Chaitanya criticized the GHMC for its lack of accountability. "Years are passing, but there's no change in GHMC's approach. They are unable to identify water stagnation points and fix them," he said. He reiterated his suggestion to capture rainwater to help mitigate urban flooding and improve groundwater quality.
In response to the heavy rainfall and the waterlogging issues, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to remain alert and take necessary precautions. In light of the weather forecast predicting continued rainfall for the next few days, the Chief Minister instructed District Collectors to ensure that paddy stored at procurement centers and markets is protected from rain and quickly transported to mills.
The Chief Minister also called for coordinated efforts from multiple agencies, including GHMC, Police, HYDRAA, Traffic, and the Electricity Department, to minimize waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and power outages. The Chief Secretary has been tasked with regularly monitoring the situation.
With the monsoon season expected to arrive soon, authorities have been instructed to take proactive measures. Twelve State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, each with 100 trained personnel, have been deployed across Telangana, with three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams stationed in Hyderabad. Additional NDRF teams have been requested for districts that may experience severe rainfall.
In addition, fire personnel in all district headquarters have undergone disaster response training, and rapid-response HYDRAA teams have been set up in Hyderabad and its suburbs. Officials have been directed to focus on flood-prone and rain-affected areas to minimize the risk of damage during heavy rains.
Residents facing similar water and sewerage issues are encouraged to contact the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) via its customer service numbers at 155313 or 040-23300114, or through its social media platforms. For concerns related to waterlogging, GHMC can be reached on its official handle on X (@GHMCOnline).
