Hyderabad: Hyderabad is facing one of the wettest Diwali festivals in living memory.
The rains that have been falling for more than a fortnight will continue, meteorologists said, and the Festival of Lights on October 18 and 19 is likely to be overshadowed by thunder showers.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department the low pressure area in eastern and central Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify further and cross the Odisha and Andhra coast in next 48 hours.
Under its influence heavy rains are likely to lash coastal Andhra, southern Odisha from Wednesday, October 18.
The Telanagana region will receive heavy rains from Thursday, October 19.
“An upper air cyclonic circulation over south west Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression during next 48 hours”, said Y.K. Reddy, director, IMD Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad and surrounding areas were continuing to receive heavy rains almost everyday under the influence of Cumulonimbus clouds and the upper circulatory systems.
On Sunday many areas of the city received rain, turning the city roads into lakes and hampering the flow of traffic. Water also entered many low-lying colonies.
Shahpur Colony was the worst affected as the area recorded 4.2cm of rain.
Ramachandrapuram, Kukatpally, Madhapur, Hitech city in the new city, Mir Alam, Sayeedabad and Saroornagar in old city received heavy rainfall.
Ever since the present phase of rains started on October 1, the city has recorded 228mm rainfall which was 348 per cent more than the normal.
In the neighbouring Ranga Reddy district 151 per cent excess rainfall was recorded.
The incessant rains and the threat of more has badly hampered the business of fire crackers in and around Hyderabad.
The retailers who had purchased the stocks in anticipation of good business were the worst affected as the weather was playing a dampener affecting the festival shipping.
