Sudden downpour causes traffic jams across Hyderabad, IT Corridor on July 18

Sudden rains brought commuters on their knees on Friday evening, with the arterial roads connecting Hyderabad and the IT Corridor in Cyberabad experiencing bumper-to-bumper traffic and jams.

Hyderabad Traffic Police issued multiple advisories on social media platform X, urging commuters to avoid travelling unless necessary and warning of a “high lightning risk.”

“Due to heavy rainfall and waterlogging, vehicular movement is slow from JBS, Kharkhana, McDonald’s, RTA Trimulgherry towards Alwal Junction,” the department tweeted around 4 p.m. Delays were also reported on routes leading from PVNR, Attapur and Narsingi to Lakdikapul and Banjara Hills, prompting police to suggest alternate routes.

Traffic bottlenecks were particularly severe near Chilkalguda, Indira Park, Chatrinaka and Langer Houz, where roads were inundated. Overflowing drains were also reported at MBNR X Roads, Karbala Maidan and the underpass near Alugaddabavi.

Waterlogging around New Market Metro Station and other arterial stretches slowed traffic to a crawl, leading to widespread delays during the evening rush. “It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get from Trimulgherry to Secunderabad Clock Tower, but today it took almost an hour,” said M. Praveen, a commuter caught in the downpour.

“Traffic was at a snail’s pace, and with water everywhere, it was a nightmare,” he said.

In Cyberabad, scores of IT employees were left stranded as traffic delays mounted by the minute. Cars and pushcarts were seen submerged in knee-level water on the Gachibowli main road, also called the Preston Prime Mall road. Angry netizens called for better road infrastructure and timely repair works to avoid inundation. “See this is how west Hyderabad looks after 2 hrs of continues rains,” said one of the X users.

“This particular section has been the same since past few years. They should build a big drain from here to Khajaguda lake nearby,” said another.

Around 5.30 p.m., Google Maps showed a 45-minute delay on the Hitec City main road, a 43-minute delay on the PV Narsimha Rao Expressway, and a 22-minute delay on the Gachibowli–Miyapur road. The Hitec City road and Gachibowli road each saw delays of 18 minutes, while the Balanagar main road reported a 15-minute delay. Commuters on the Gachibowli flyover and the Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB) to Hitec City road faced delays ranging between 13 to 15 minutes, with wait times only worsening as the evening progressed.

Social media was flooded with complaints from frustrated commuters caught in the gridlock. “We are stuck on the AMB flyover for over 30 minutes, please help,” posted Vaibhav Patel, tagging the Hyderabad Traffic Police on X.

The six-lane third-level flyover, officially known as the P. Janardhan Reddy (PJR) flyover was inaugurated just three weeks ago, is already witnessing serious traffic snarls.

At Kothaguda Junction, commuter Sunil K. raised concerns over the reckless behaviour of food delivery riders. “It’s horrible here with delivery bikes not caring for traffic signals and jumping them. They’re driving all around. This needs to stop and traffic sense needs to be enforced,” he wrote.

With more showers forecast in the coming days, officials have urged citizens to stay indoors unless travel is absolutely necessary.