Hyderabad was hit by torrential rain this week, leaving large parts of the city under water. Traffic crawled, drains overflowed, and flash floods swept through several neighbourhoods, throwing evening life into chaos. Amid the deluge, one story of kindness stood out online. Journalist Sumit Jha posted on X about how two delivery riders rescued him when he was struggling on a flooded street late at night. “Hey Zomato, Swiggy, just wanted to share that your riders not only delivered food during this deluge, but also saved me and my bike from being swept away in the stormwater. They did the same for hundreds of people like me trying to reach home at midnight in Hyderabad,” he wrote, sharing a video of the incident. The clip shows men in delivery jackets wading through waist-deep water, pulling a motorbike to safety. It has been watched more than five lakh times since September 18, sparking a wave of reactions about the grit and humanity of gig workers. Watch the video: Hey @zomato @Swiggy, just wanted to share that your riders not only delivered food during this deluge, but also saved me and my bike from being swept away in the stormwater. They did the same for hundreds of people like me trying to reach home at midnight in Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/gsgw5UyGW4 — Sumit Jha (@sumitjha__) September 17, 2025 “How can people order food online in such situations? How will the delivery boy drive in such flood situations?” a user asked in the comments. Another user commented, “Thanks for sharing. It would be a wise idea to train uber drivers, food delivery boys to handle disasters like this.” A third person wrote, “Humanity to get the credit, and not Swiggy Zomato. They might penalise them to help you which would have delayed the delivery.” A fourth individual commented, “They are not heroes because of a Zomato or Swiggy jacket. They are heroes because they are normal human beings with a mind that cares and a heart that acts. The uniform just shows where they work, but their humanity is what truly defines them.” Hyderabad Police also weighed in, posting that their teams had been working overnight with the city’s disaster management agency to pump out water and reopen roads. “We thank citizens for their cooperation. Stay safe and follow traffic advisories,” the statement read. #HYDTPinfo Today, @HYDTP personnel in coordination with #HYDRAA worked tirelessly today to manage waterlogging and ensure smooth traffic flow across the city after heavy rainfall. We thank citizens for their cooperation. Stay safe and follow traffic advisories. 🙏🚦… pic.twitter.com/4BpV1zJRQe — Hyderabad Traffic Police (@HYDTP) September 18, 2025 By the time the skies cleared, much of Hyderabad was still reeling. Residential areas were inundated, people evacuated their homes, and the city’s spirit of community, captured in that viral clip, became one of the few bright spots in an otherwise grim night.
