This is an archive article published on April 3, 2025
Portion of Charminar minaret breaks off amid heavy rain in Hyderabad
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), various parts of Hyderabad and other areas in Telangana experienced powerful thunderstorms with heavy winds on Thursday.
Archeological Survey of India (ASI) officials in Hyderabad rushed to the Charminar on Thursday evening after a portion of its northeast minaret was damaged and broke off amid heavy rain.
The incident has raised concerns about the protection of the 16th-century monument.
MLA from the Charminar constituency, Mir Zulfiqar Ali of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), told The Indian Express that a small portion of stones and mortar got dislodged and fell off during the heavy downpour.
“It is fortunate that no one was below the minaret at that time… ASI officials have told me that the minaret is not under threat and that they will start repairs as soon as possible. Heritage conservation activists like myself and others have been raising concerns about the protection of Charminar,” he said.
An ASI official said they were assessing the damage. “But we do not think the entire minaret is under threat. A small portion got dislodged during the heavy downpour in the afternoon and fell down,” the official said.
In May 2019, a small tile from the southwest minaret had fell off during similar heavy rain and ASI officials conducted repairs.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), various parts of Hyderabad and other areas in Telangana experienced powerful thunderstorms with heavy winds on Thursday.
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The rain brought some respite as Hyderabad has seen rising temperatures in recent days, going up to around 35 degrees Celsius. IMD officials said the change in weather brought the temperature down by around 4 degrees.
The IMD has issued a warning that rains would continue until Sunday.
Following a heavy downpour in Hyderabad City, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered officials to be on high alert.
Local civic authorities have been asked to take necessary relief measures and ensure people do not face hardship due to the rain.
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A CMO official said there were reports of flooding in low-lying areas due to the sudden downpour.
The Chief Minister has instructed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to review the situation from time to time and take appropriate measures to avoid inconvenience to those living in low-lying areas.
The CM ordered the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the police, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency and other departments to work in coordination to ensure that there is no waterlogging on the roads, traffic jams or power outages.
Energy Department authorities were also instructed to resolve power supply problems and restore services immediately. Civic authorities have been asked to take necessary relief measures in flooded colonies in the low-lying areas.
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CM Reddy asked officers and staff of various departments to support each other in taking up relief measures.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
