Telangana districts brace for hailstorm as IMD issues orange alert

HYDERABAD: Less than a month after heavy hailstorm wreaked havoc in several districts in Telangana, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has yet again issued an orange alert for hailstorm activity in central and northern districts for April 6 and 7.
For the rest of the state, including Hyderabad, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and possible hailstorms between afternoon and evening hours on those two days.
The districts under orange alert on April 6 include Asifabad, Mancherial, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Sircilla and Kamareddy, where thunderstorm, lightning strike, hailstorm and gusty winds up to 40 kmph are expected.
On April 7, the activity would spread to Adilabad, Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Warangal, Hanumkonda, Jangaon, Siddipet, Sanagreddy, Medak and Kamareddy. Hyderabad district on both days would be on yellow alert for rain and lightning.
Meanwhile, the impact of these heat-induced thunderstorms began on Tuesday itself with Uppal recording 4.5mm rainfall and Khairatabad 2.8mm rainfall. Allapalli in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district recorded the highest rainfall in the state, 38mm.
Even though rain made their appearance on Wednesday, temperatures soared through the day. The highest temperatures were recorded at Nirmal at 43 degrees followed by Sanagreddy at 42.7 degrees. In GHMC limits the highest temperature was recorded at Borabanda with 39.7 degrees.
Rain, heavy thunder and lightning lashed several areas of GHMC region post 7pm. Mehdipatnam, Jubilee Hills, Karwan and Khairatabad were among the most impacted. At the same time, rain spells also occurred at Lingampally, Chandanagar, Rajendranagar and Narsingi.