Hyderabad civil society seeks immediate relief and accountability over flood mismanagement

By A Representative

Hyderabad civil society groups and flood-affected residents have issued an urgent appeal to the Telangana government, demanding immediate compensation, accountability, and systemic reforms after the sudden release of waters from the Himayat Sagar reservoir on September 26 caused widespread flooding. The letter, dated October 1 and addressed to Hyderabad District Collector Ms. Harichandana Dasari, IAS, with copies marked to senior officials including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Awareness Authority (HYDRAA) Commissioner, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director, and the Chief Secretary of Telangana, highlights what it terms “grave lapses in flood management and community protection.”

The petition notes that the unannounced release of floodwaters around 9:00 pm on September 26 inundated localities such as Moosa Nagar, Vinayak Veedhi, Kamal Nagar, Rasoolpura, Shankar Nagar, Purana Pul, Kishan Bagh, Jiyaguda, Attapur, Hashim Nagar and surrounding areas, directly affecting over 6,000 families. It alleges that the release was carried out without prior warning or phased management, leaving residents unprepared and forcing many to flee in the darkness through waist-deep water.

The letter accuses authorities of questionable water management decisions, lack of coordination between GHMC, HMWSSB, HYDRAA and the Disaster Management Department, and a failure to activate early-warning systems or operationalize the GHMC Disaster Management Plan of 2024. Civil society representatives argue that these failures “amount to a profound violation of public trust,” given the recurring nature of flooding in Hyderabad and the absence of effective communication to vulnerable communities.

Beyond administrative failures, the appeal details the scale of human suffering. It documents the loss of homes, food stocks, household goods, appliances, vending carts, tools, and livestock, along with devastating effects on the livelihoods of domestic workers, vendors, construction laborers, waste pickers, and gig workers. Families already on the margins have been pushed deeper into poverty, with vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly suffering severe trauma. The letter highlights stories of families who lost marriage preparations, belongings bought on installment, or sources of livelihood overnight.

Civil society groups also expressed alarm that no official damage assessment or compensation process has yet been initiated, despite appeals made immediately after the flooding. The inaction, they say, has compounded despair among affected families. The letter cites recent flood-related deaths—including a five-year-old girl in Yakutpura and several young men in different localities—as evidence of persistent negligence in drainage safety, early-warning mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination.

The appeal lays out urgent demands including an independent investigation into reservoir management decisions, disciplinary action against negligent officials, immediate household-level damage assessments with transparent documentation, fair compensation covering housing, rations, appliances, and livelihood tools, and a comprehensive disaster preparedness audit for Hyderabad’s reservoirs and drainage systems. It also calls for meaningful community engagement in disaster risk reduction, in line with the National Disaster Management Authority’s 2024 guidelines.

The letter warns that the government’s silence and lack of accountability are eroding public trust. It urges the Telangana administration to issue a clear, evidence-based statement explaining the rationale behind the water release, backed by data on inflows and discharge schedules. “Justice demands not only relief and rehabilitation, but also truth and accountability,” the signatories state, stressing that lives and livelihoods cannot be sacrificed to preventable lapses in governance.

Signed by more than 40 organizations and individuals, including the Forum Against Environmental and Economic Injustice, Human Rights Forum, NAPM Telangana, Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika, Dhaatri Trust, Rythu Swarajya Vedika, Hyderabad Slum People’s Federation, and representatives of workers’ and women’s collectives, the appeal calls on the state government and NDMA to act with urgency, transparency, and compassion.

“The people deserve to know why they were made to suffer,” the statement concludes, urging the government to ensure timely compensation and reforms to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe.

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