Constable C. Venkataiah of the Gachibowli Traffic Police rescuing a young woman trapped inside a partially submerged car.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
As torrential rain battered Hyderabad on Tuesday evening (June 9, 2026), inundating several stretches of roads in the IT corridor, the action of a traffic constable at a critical waterlogging point helped save a young woman trapped inside a partially submerged car.
Constable C. Venkataiah of the Gachibowli Traffic Police was on duty near Santosh Dhaba on the Kothaguda–Kondapur stretch, one of the 15 critical waterlogging locations identified by the Cyberabad police. Assigned to monitor the vulnerable spot, he had reached the location shortly before heavy rains lashed the area.
As water rapidly accumulated on the stretch, 22-year-old Mahima Reddy found herself stranded inside her sedan. Within minutes, floodwater rose around the vehicle and began entering the cabin.
“Water started flowing into the car, and within minutes, it reached my chest. The door wouldn’t open, and I almost drowned,” Ms. Reddy recalled.
Police said the rising water pressure prevented her from opening the car doors from inside, trapping her as the water level rose.
Constable C. Venkataiah of the Gachibowli Traffic Police rescuing a young woman trapped inside a partially submerged car
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement
At the time, Mr. Venkataiah was clearing debris and garbage from a drainage vent to ensure rainwater could flow freely and not choke the carriageway. Spotting the distressed motorist inside the vehicle, he immediately rushed to her aid.
With water reaching nearly four feet in depth around the vehicle, Mr. Venkataiah, assisted by residents, forced open the car door from outside and pulled Mahima to safety before the situation worsened.
The rescue unfolded amid widespread disruption caused by the heavy rain, which triggered severe waterlogging and kilometre-long traffic jams across several parts of Hyderabad, particularly in the IT corridor.
Gachibowli Traffic Inspector Gona Suresh said Mr. Venkataiah had been specifically deployed at the waterlogging point to take preventive measures.
“Constables are trained to prevent waterlogging and proactively help people in such situations, but presence of mind is crucial. He reacted immediately despite having no support available at the spot and ensured the woman was rescued safely,” the inspector said.
Amid social media timelines flooded with images of submerged roads, traffic gridlock and civic failures after the rain, a traffic constable wading through chest-deep water to rescue a stranded motorist stood out as a rare positive story. The act has earned Mr. Venkataiah praise from citizens and senior officers alike, with Cyberabad Commissioner M. Ramesh expected to reward him for his exemplary service.
Published – June 13, 2026 11:14 am IST
