The year 1908

Month September

Day Wednesday

Three days had passed since the new moon, yet thick clouds smothered its glow. Rain had been drizzling since last night, and from 2 a.m. onwards, the intensity was high.

Slowly, the Musi—a tributary of Krishna on which Hyderabad is located—showed a sign of increasing water level.

By 6 a.m, a cloudburst unleashed torrents upon the city. The river swelled, crushing its banks, and surged into colonies with a force that turned homes to rubble.

People who were unaware of the calamity were startled. Before even responding, they were washed away as the flood swept deep into the city.

The death toll rose.

Houses, mosques, temples and many other structures turned into mere bricks.

One such structure was the Osmania Hospital, where desperate people sought higher ground upon witnessing the rising floodwaters. But the raging current surged in, swallowing everything like a ravenous beast, leaving behind only shattered remains.

People watching the catastrophe unfold at their feet saw their only chance of survival—a tree that had stood tall since the time of the Nizams.

300 years old – Tamarind Tree.

Without hesitation, the victims scrambled up the tree, clinging to its sturdy branches for dear life. That day, people stranded on the tree saw the full might of the havoc. Small to medium houses, shops, and other structures were completely turned to dust, while the high-rise buildings, temples, and mosques sustained severe damage.

For 36 relentless hours, the Musi raged. Then, as suddenly as it began, the river receded, leaving behind a shattered city and the echoes of its wrath. The death toll reached 15,000, and 80,000 properties lay in ruins.

However, 150 lives were saved by the Tamarind. It was recorded that the 300-year-old tree held onto its roots in the devastation and saved the people.

Nature, like the steadfast Tamarind, stands as both savior and witness to human tragedy—a silent guardian to whom we remain forever indebted.