The Great Musi Flood of 1908 killed approximately 50,000 people in Hyderabad, making it one of the deadliest flood disasters in Indian history.
Key Facts
- Date
- 28 September 1908
- Death toll
- 50,000 people
- River
- Musi River
- Bridges destroyed
- 3 (Afzal, Mussallam Jung, Chaderghat)
- Local name
- Thughyani Sitambar
- Political context
- Hyderabad State under Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Musi River, which flows through Hyderabad, experienced catastrophic flooding in late September 1908. The city of Hyderabad, then the capital of the princely Hyderabad State under British India, was situated along its banks and vulnerable to severe inundation during extreme rainfall events.
On 28 September 1908, the Musi River burst its banks and inundated large parts of Hyderabad, killing an estimated 50,000 people. The disaster, locally called Thughyani Sitambar, caused widespread destruction across the city ruled by Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.
Three major bridges — the Afzal, Mussallam Jung, and Chaderghat — were washed away, leaving the historic Puranapul as the sole link between the two halves of the city. The catastrophic loss of life and infrastructure prompted significant urban planning and flood mitigation efforts in Hyderabad in subsequent years.