The heavy rainfall was attributed to a trough and cyclonic circulation over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Andhra Pradesh, which intensified monsoon activity across Telangana.
Published Jun 15, 2025 | 1:32 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 15, 2025 | 1:32 PM
Heavy rains and waterlogging in Hyderabad.
Synopsis: Heavy rains in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana during the last few days have thrown life out of gear and damaged the standing crops. The heavy downpour is part of a broader monsoon surge influenced by an Upper Air Circulation over the Bay of Bengal.
Rains have battered Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana during the last few days, throwing life out of gear and damaging the standing crops.
There, however, was respite for Hyderabad on Saturday and Sunday, 15 June, but several parts of the city received heavy and intense rainfall on earlier days. Hyderabad bore the brunt of heavy rainfall, resulting in widespread disruption to public life, infrastructure, and mobility.
The heavy downpour, part of a broader monsoon surge influenced by an Upper Air Circulation (UAC) over the Bay of Bengal, caused significant waterlogging, traffic snarls, and power outages across the city.
Areas that received intense rainfall included the University of Hyderabad area, Serilingampally, and Nallagandla. Other parts, such as Lingampally, Chandanagar, Gachibowli, Hafeezpet, Miyapur, BHEL, KPHB, and Rajendranagar, also faced significant rainfall, though less intense.
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Heavy rainfall in Hyderabad
The heavy rainfall was attributed to a trough and cyclonic circulation over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Andhra Pradesh, which intensified monsoon activity across Telangana.
This system led to widespread moderate to heavy rains in southern and eastern districts, including Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Khammam, with Hyderabad experiencing significant urban flooding due to its topography and drainage challenges.
Low-lying areas such as Santosh Nagar, Champapet, Banjara Hills, Mehdipatnam, Tolichowki, Nampally, Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Lakdikapul, and Gachibowli were inundated, with roads submerged under knee-deep water in some places.
Videos that swarmed social media presented a pathetic picture of people struggling to navigate flooded streets, with vehicles, including bikes and ambulances, stuck in areas like Attapur.
The Lingampally railway underpass was full of water, with warnings issued to avoid it due to severe flooding. Traffic came to a standstill on major arterial roads, severely hampering mobility.
Causes power disruption
The heavy rains caused power disruptions in several parts of the city, with uprooted trees and damaged electric poles reported. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) worked to clear debris, but the scale of the disruption strained resources.
Hyderabad’s civic infrastructure was ill-equipped to handle the deluge, exposing longstanding issues with urban planning and drainage systems. The GHMC faced criticism for inadequate maintenance of stormwater drains, which were clogged in many areas, leading to severe waterlogging.
The historic Charminar, previously damaged by heavy rains in April 2025, remained a concern, though no new damage was reported on 14 June.
Traffic police and HYDRAA forces worked to clear fallen trees and branches, while GHMC workers addressed waterlogging issues. However, the scale of the rainfall overwhelmed these efforts, particularly in western suburbs like Serilingampally and Nallagandla.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad and 14 other Telangana districts, warning of continued light to moderate rain with gusty winds through 14 June.
Also Read: Continuous rainfall expected in most parts of South India
Waterlogging and associated issues
On 13 June, waterlogging took place once again in Hyderabad. Schools and colleges were shut in some areas as a precautionary measure, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) faced criticism for inadequate drainage systems, which exacerbated flooding in urban pockets.
On 12 June, Hyderabad recorded scattered rains, with some areas experiencing up to 48 mm of rainfall in a few hours, leading to submerged roads and exposed manholes, posing risks to commuters.
Motorists and residents faced significant challenges navigating flooded streets, with ambulances and vehicles stranded in areas like Attapur, where knee-deep water was reported. The heavy rainfall also disrupted power supply in several parts of the city, with uprooted trees and damaged electric poles reported.
In rural districts like Kamareddy, Asifabad, Mancherial, Peddapalli, Jagtial, Sircilla, Medak, and Sangareddy, intense rainfall on 9 and 10 June 2025 caused further disruption. Villages in these areas faced inundation, and connectivity was hampered as roads and bridges were damaged.
The state government has been urged to enhance contingency measures, with control rooms set up in district collector offices to manage relief efforts.
The agricultural sector in Telangana was affected. The incessant rainfall has submerged thousands of acres of crops, particularly in districts like Khammam, Narayanpet, Wanaparthy, Mahabubnagar, and Nagarkurnool. The damage to agriculture threatens livelihoods, as many farmers rely on the southwest monsoon season for their primary income.
Prediction of continued wet weather
The IMD and local weather sources predict continued wet weather in Hyderabad and Telangana over the next two to three days (16–18 June 2025). An active UAC over the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring heavy rains, with isolated intense spells in Hyderabad and districts like Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Mahabubnagar, and Nagarkurnool.
The Weather Channel forecasts a 50 to 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in Hyderabad, with highs of 29–32°C and lows of 24–25°C. Hazy conditions and winds of 10–30 km/h are also expected.
- 16 June: Hyderabad may see morning showers with a 40 percent chance of rain.
- 17 June: Scattered thunderstorms with a 70 percent probability.
- 18 June: Intensity may decrease slightly, with a 50 percent chance of showers.
Districts in southern and northern Telangana, including Kamareddy and Adilabad, are likely to experience heavy rainfall, potentially leading to further flooding in low-lying areas. The IMD has not issued a specific alert for Hyderabad but has warned of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places across Telangana, urging residents to stay cautious.
The Telangana government has mobilised relief efforts, with instructions to shift residents from low-lying areas to relief camps. The state has deployed State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, with control rooms operational to coordinate rescue and rehabilitation.
However, the unpreparedness of civic agencies, particularly GHMC, has been a recurring issue, as seen in the collapse of civic systems during past heavy rains.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
