WATCH Hyderabad Traffic Chaos: Kilometres-Long Jams Follow Heavy Rain

Residents of Hyderabad experienced a massive traffic jam reminiscent of some of the biggest traffic jams seen in China, with cars trapped for hours in long queues spanning kilometres, on Tuesday evening.

The traffic jam highlighted Hyderabad's escalating traffic problems, calling for urban planners to reassess transportation systems and consider options such as enhancing public transport and expanding road networks to avert similar incidents, as reported by Times Of India.

WATCH Hyderabad Traffic Chaos

The gridlock was caused by heavy rain at major junctions such as Begumpet, Panjagutta, and Khairatabad X Road, adding to the woes of commuters. Long traffic delays were reported in various parts of the IT corridor as well.

The rainfall in Hyderabad averaged 38.5 mm, with Serilingampally and Kukatpally receiving the highest amounts of 133.5 mm and 117.8 mm, respectively, intensifying the impact of the weather.

Massive traffic jams were stretched for kilometres in central Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and the IT hubs of Madhapur and Gachibowli. Gridlocks extended from the Raidurgam Biodiversity junction to IKEA and various sections along the IT corridor, as reported by Times Of India.

Severe heatwave conditions have been endured by parts of the state for several days, with temperatures in some areas surpassing 46 degrees Celsius.

Emergency response teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were deployed to clear stagnant water and remove fallen trees, yet traffic jams persisted for several hours. Extensive traffic congestion, stretching for kilometres, was observed in central Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and the information technology hubs of Madhapur and Gachibowli, as reported by NDTV.

Vehicle movement was also affected on the city's outskirts. Rain accompanied by thunderstorms also affected several other districts in Telangana, including Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Mulugu.

For several days preceding the rainfall, various parts of the state had been enduring severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures in some locations exceeding 46 degrees Celsius. The weather office has forecast more rain and thunderstorms in parts of Telangana today.

Tragically, seven individuals, including a four-year-old child, lost their lives when a retaining wall at an under-construction apartment collapsed due to the torrential downpour in Hyderabad's Bachupally area, as reported by the police, as reported by NDTV.

The deceased, who were migrant workers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, had their bodies recovered early the following morning from under the debris using an excavator.