HEAVY RAINS lashed Hyderabad city since Friday evening and at least 9 people died due to collapse of walls reported at two places, throwing normal life out of gear and inundating low-lying colonies. Last night 11.4 cm rainfall was recorded in the city. In some parts of the city it was as high as 18 cm.

Due to depression in Bay of Bengal, heavy rains are reported from all parts of Andhra Pradesh causing traffic jams. In Hyderabad city water has been reported flowing into houses in low laying areas.

In Hafijpet at Adiya Nagar, a mother and her three children died when her house was collapsed. In Hill Colony of Bala Nagar, five workers died when a company's compound wall collapsed. Three of them hail from Bihar.

In Yashoda Ngar of Sagar Road around 200 disabled children were struck in the middle of water when the disabled children's hostel was hit by rainwater.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation opened six control rooms in the city to monitor the situation and extend relief to the needy people. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also expressed his deep condolence over the death of nine people in the city. At a high level official meeting he reviewed the situation in the state and directed all the district collectors to be alert to face any eventuality.

The weather officials cautioned that these rains are likely to continue for the next 48 hours in Telangana and coastal districts.