Hyderabad civic body asked people staying in old buildings be evacuated immediately.
The heavy downpour in Hyderabad this morning has claimed seven lives - two families were wiped out in and around Hyderabad when the houses they were in, collapsed. The met department has issued a forecast that there is likelihood of heavy rainfall in the afternoon as well.
A family of four, migrants from Mahbubnagar, died when a wall adjoining their home collapsed in Ramanthapuram. In Bhoklapur, Mursheedabad, a mother and two toddlers died.
In the morning, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy had issued an advisory, asking people not to venture out on to the road for an hour or so unless it was an emergency. He also said no one should open covers of manholes even to clean them, without permission from the authorities.
Senior officer of the traffic police Ranganath has advised commuters to plan their travel in such a way as to avoid traffic jams.
As much as 6 cm of rainfall was recorded after the morning's deluge in several localities of the twin cities like Kapra, Malakpet and Fever Hospital. The Tank Bund Road was full of water, so were several low-lying areas since 8 am.
Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma held an emergency meeting with the civic body Commissioner, the Mayor and other officials to review the situation.
Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia has been announced on behalf of the municipality for each of those who died due to building collapse.
Two days of heavy rain has been forecast for Telangana at a time when thousands of farmers have lost their maize crop due to no rain in August.