Hyderabad–Srisailam highway caves in after torrential rain Cyclone Montha
Authorities have launched repair efforts and rescue operations to restore connectivity and ensure safety after the highway collapse.
Hyderabad: A section of the Hyderabad–Srisailam Highway caved in on Thursday, October 30, following relentless rains triggered by Cyclone Montha, bringing traffic to a complete standstill and leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The dramatic collapse occurred near Lattipur village in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana, and visuals circulating on social media show the once-busy highway now split into two, with gaping cracks cutting through the road.
In several videos that have gone viral, stunned travelers can be seen stopping their vehicles and assessing the extent of the damage. One particularly alarming clip shows a man attempting to jump over the broken section to reach the other side, underscoring the scale of the disaster and the desperation of those caught in the chaos. What was once a lifeline connecting Hyderabad to the temple town of Srisailam has now become impassable, forcing commuters to take long detours.
Local authorities immediately rushed to the site and cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents. Teams from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Nagarkurnool district administration, and Telangana police are working together to restore connectivity and assess structural stability in the surrounding areas. “Our first priority is to ensure the safety of the stranded travelers and then begin the repair work to reopen the route as soon as possible,” an official said.
Emergency repair efforts are already underway, but the heavy rain continues to hamper progress. The collapse is believed to have been caused by soil erosion beneath the road surface, as days of pounding rainfall weakened the foundation. Engineers on-site said that a combination of intense runoff and waterlogging undermined the structure, leading to the sudden cave-in.
The Hyderabad–Srisailam Highway is a crucial route that connects the state capital to several towns and pilgrimage centers in southern Telangana and neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of vehicles, including tourist buses and goods carriers, use the road daily. The disruption has therefore caused major inconvenience for travelers, especially with Diwali and Chhath Puja approaching.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has meanwhile issued an orange alert for Hyderabad and several other districts, warning of more heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. The department said that the remnants of Cyclone Montha, which made landfall earlier in the week, continue to dump torrential rain across Telangana. For October 30, the IMD also issued a yellow alert, urging citizens to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
In its latest forecast, the IMD said that Montha’s movement inland would continue to bring widespread rainfall across northern and eastern Telangana. The department has also warned of potential flooding, landslides, and road blockages, especially in low-lying areas and near hilly terrains.
Adding to the warnings, the popular Telangana Weatherman, known for his accurate and timely predictions, issued an advisory on social media. “As Cyclone Montha moves inland, very heavy downpours are ahead in Adilabad, Kumurambheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Peddapalli, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Hanumakonda, Warangal, Jangoan, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Mahabubabad, Suryapet, Khammam, and Nagarkurnool,” he wrote, cautioning that some areas could receive 80 to 180 mm of rain within a single day.
The Telangana government has placed disaster management teams and local authorities on high alert. Rescue and relief personnel have been deployed in vulnerable regions, while the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has set up helplines for citizens to report flooding, tree falls, or other emergencies. Electricity officials have also been instructed to monitor power lines and transformers to prevent electrocution incidents.
Residents in several parts of Hyderabad reported waterlogging on major roads, traffic jams, and partial flooding in residential colonies. The situation remained particularly severe in LB Nagar, Uppal, Kukatpally, and Dilsukhnagar, where water accumulated rapidly due to overflowing drains.
Despite the chaos, officials remain hopeful that weather conditions will gradually improve over the weekend as Montha weakens. However, they have urged citizens to remain alert and avoid venturing out unless absolutely necessary.
As Cyclone Montha continues its inland journey, Telangana braces for more rain, with authorities racing against time to restore normalcy on the Hyderabad–Srisailam Highway and ensure that life and travel in the state can return to normal.