Hyderabad: Emergency services under the city’s Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) unit were disrupted after marshals walked off duty protesting a government pay cut. The strike halted the Hydra control room, training operations, and the Prajavani public grievance system, affecting all 150 divisions under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The marshals, most of them ex-servicemen, were recruited in 2020 into the GHMC’s Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management wing and are currently attached to HYDRAA. Around 100 personnel joined the protest. They said they would hold talks with Commissioner Ranganath on the salary issue, which has been under internal discussion in recent weeks.
HYDRAA marshals’ protest over pay cut during city floods becomes flashpoint
The walkout came as Hyderabad was battling heavy rains and flooding, making the suspension of HYDRAA services a prominent public issue.
