Flood alert issued in Hyderabad; water department urges precautionary measures

Hyderabad: A flood alert has been issued across several low-lying localities in Hyderabad as authorities brace for the potential release of water from the Himayatsagar and Osmansagar reservoirs. With water levels steadily rising in both dams, concerns have grown over the risk of inundation in areas adjacent to the Musi River.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has sounded the alert and directed all concerned departments to initiate precautionary measures to safeguard lives and minimise damage. In response, the district administration has begun urging residents in vulnerable zones to evacuate as a safety precaution.

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Localities considered at risk include Chaderghat, Jiyaguda 100 Feet Road, Attapur, Nagole, and Moosarambagh, areas that have faced severe flooding in the past during reservoir discharges. These neighbourhoods, situated close to the Musi’s course, are particularly susceptible to sudden surges in water levels.

Temporary shelters have been set up in function halls and community centres for displaced families, with residents advised not to return to their homes until further notice. Multiple government agencies, including the Revenue Department, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Disaster Response Force (DRF), and city police, have been placed on high alert and are working round the clock to monitor the situation.

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The release of water from the Himayatsagar and Osmansagar dams often causes the Musi to overflow, submerging informal settlements and unregulated structures that continue to encroach upon the river’s natural course. While the Musi Riverfront Development project was launched to restore and preserve the riverbank, progress has been uneven, and illegal constructions remain a pressing concern.

Built in the aftermath of the catastrophic Musi floods of 1908, the Himayatsagar and Osmansagar reservoirs were designed during the Nizam era to control the river’s flow and protect the city from flood disasters. Over a century later, the city still relies on these ageing structures for flood mitigation, yet rapid urbanisation and encroachments continue to compromise the river's defences every year.