Thursday started off with a sultry morning, but by autumn, the rainfall gods blessed Hyderabad with an affable surprise. Cloudy skies and showers moved by, bringing light- to-moderate rain across the megacity, which eventually brought the temperature down to a comfortable position. The unforeseen mizzle caught citizens off guard as they rushed to snare their screens and mackintoshes. The showers added to the drama, with lightning and thunder growling across the megacity. Thepre-monsoon rains have hit the State before than usual, thanks to an active western disturbance.
It’s worth noting that Hyderabad has not had proper rains in March for the last four times. The loftiest downfall of 38.4 mm was recorded on March 5, 2014, which was rare. The IMD has also issued a warning for the coming five days stating that lightning, breezy winds and hail storms are likely to occur in the utmost sections of the State. The entire State is on alert and the authorities are taking necessary measures to insure the safety of citizens. The rainfall department has also prompted growers to take necessary preventives and cover crops from the harsh rainfall. At Marpally mandal in Vikarabad quarter, numerous thoroughfares and agrarian fields were covered with hailstones. In videos on Twitter, people were seen driving vehicles on hailstone-covered roads at Marpally.
This piecemeal, images of onion and vegetable fields damaged in the rains and hailstorm were extensively circulated in social media. Also, the corridor of Sangareddy quarter, particularly Kohir, Zaheerabad, Nagulgidda, Mogudampally and many other mandals witnessed heavy rains coupled with hailstorms. Several mandals in quondam Khammam quarter reported light to moderate downfall accompanied by high speed winds and hailstorm. Due to the rains, power was affected in numerous areas as trees got pulled at different places and collapsed over the power lines. As many as 22 cattle died when struck by lightning at Mamidi Gudem of Cherla mandal in Kothagudem quarter. Property damage was reported at a many places in Wyra and in Madhira mandals as well.