Heavy rainfall in Hyderabad on September 26-27 caused the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to open gates at the Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs, which together have a combined capacity of nearly 6 TMC (thousand million cubic feet).
The Himayat Sagar reservoir, built on a tributary of the Musi River, is designed to provide water supply and flood protection to Hyderabad, but rising inflows from continuous rains prompted officials to release nearly 12,000 cusecs from nine gates at Himayat Sagar alone. This led to the Musi River overflowing near Chaderghat Bridge, forcing closure of adjacent roads and causing widespread traffic snarls across the city.
At least 55 residents from low-lying neighborhoods were evacuated to relief camps, more than 1000 people rescued, while critical infrastructure including the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) suffered flooding. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed continuous monitoring and emergency response. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast further heavy rains in the region.
Intense Flooding and Emergency Measures
The release of a large volume of water from the twin reservoirs was necessitated by the alarming rise in water levels due to incessant monsoon rains. GHMC officials stated that nearly 12 of the 15 gates at Osman Sagar and 9 of the 17 gates at Himayat Sagar were opened to prevent dam breaches.
The sudden surge in water flow caused the Musi River to overflow, inundating areas like Moosarambagh, Falaknuma, Malakpet, Bahadurpura, and making roads impassable near Chaderghat Bridge. Floodwaters entered the MGBS premises, disrupting bus operations and trapping numerous passengers who were safely evacuated by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The authorities implemented road closures and traffic diversions to reduce congestion, particularly around IT hubs such as Gachibowli and HiTech City, which also experienced heavy waterlogging. The Cyberabad traffic police advised IT companies to adopt work-from-home arrangements to ease traffic pressure.
Background and Broader Impact
Hyderabad’s repeated flood crises underscore escalating challenges posed by urbanisation, aging drainage infrastructure, and climate change. Recent weeks saw multiple fatalities linked to rain-related accidents and overwhelmed drainage systems.
The Musi River’s banks, already strained by encroachments and construction, suffer significant damage during floods, and ongoing infrastructure projects like the under-construction Moosarambagh bridge face structural threats from turbulent flows. Experts highlight that rapid urban growth without adequate flood mitigation strategies exacerbates risks for vulnerable communities in the city’s historic and low-lying areas.
The state government has urged all emergency services to maintain high readiness as the IMD projects continued heavy showers followed by gradual easing from September 29 onwards.
వరుసగా వర్షాలు, వరదలతో జంట జలాశయాల గేట్లు ఎత్తడం, మూసీకి వరద నీటి ప్రవాహం పెరగటంతో పరివాహక ప్రాంతాల్లో పరిస్థితిని ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ @revanth_anumula ఎప్పటికప్పుడు అధికారులను అడిగి తెలుసుకున్నారు. మూసీ వెంట లోతట్టు ప్రాంతాల్లో తగిన జాగ్రత్తలు తీసుకోవాలని, ముంపునకు గురయ్యే ప్రాంత… pic.twitter.com/zWq3LuA0LA
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) September 27, 2025
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This episode reveals the urgent need for holistic urban planning that incorporates resilient water management and inclusive safety measures. While the evacuation efforts and coordination by Hyderabad officials demonstrate improved disaster readiness, the recurrence of floods reveals shortcomings in foresight and infrastructure governance.
The Logical Indian urges sustained dialogue between citizens, policymakers, and environmental experts to advocate for solutions that balance development with ecological care. Only through collective responsibility and mutual empathy can Hyderabad evolve into a city that safeguards its residents from natural calamities caused or amplified by human action.
GHMC is on High Alert as inflows from Himayatsagar & Osmansagar increase into Musi river.
— GHMC (@GHMCOnline) September 26, 2025
💥 1000+ residents shifted safely to relief camps.
💥 GHMC officials arranged food, drinking water, medical facilities, and also provided blankets to those in need at the relief camps.
💥… pic.twitter.com/YxBKWWu3uU
Flood waters flowing above the lower bridge, Chaderghat #Hyderabad
— Mohd Abdul Sattar (@SattarFarooqui) September 27, 2025
TG police personnel are on constant vigil. Kudos to their efforts.
Praying for the safety & well being of all the people living near Moosa river (Musi موسیٰ ندی ) @TelanganaCMO @hydcitypolice@HYDTP… pic.twitter.com/hTSsYWtwiL
