With the monsoon intensifying, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Fire Services Department (HYDRA) are ramping up joint operations to handle weather-related emergencies and minimize inconvenience to city residents.

GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan announced full cooperation with HYDRA throughout the rainy season, emphasizing the need for seamless coordination across departments. “HYDRA will lead emergency response efforts, while GHMC engineering teams will provide technical and logistical support across wards, circles, and zones,” Karnan stated during an inter-departmental meeting. The meeting, held Thursday evening at GHMC headquarters, brought together officials from engineering, traffic, fire services, and HYDRA to strategize for efficient response. HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath detailed responsibilities, including managing 11 underpasses, ensuring rainwater doesn’t stagnate on flyovers, catchpit de-silting, and conducting nala safety audits.

Ranganath also suggested GHMC facilitate transfer points ward-wise to handle soil removed during de-silting activities. GHMC will monitor open nala de-silting, new sump maintenance, and share lake water levels with HYDRA to alert residents in low-lying areas.