Tension erupted at Sunna Cheruvu in Madhapur, Hyderabad, on Sunday after authorities demolished what they claimed were illegal structures. The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) led the demolition. During the incident, some people protested by pouring kerosene on themselves.
Earlier in the day, HYDRA officials arrived with police security to demolish an illegal construction on encroached land at the lake. The building in question had been leased to a hotel. Upon seeing the demolition team with JCB machines, the hotel staff became upset and tried to stop the demolition. Some of them poured petrol on themselves and threatened to set themselves on fire.
The police intervened and stopped a man who had poured petrol on himself from attempting self-immolation. Videos of the incident quickly spread on social media, showing residents pouring kerosene on themselves in protest. One resident expressed frustration, saying they had been paying Rs 3,000 in rent without basic sanitation. “If the authorities suddenly demolish our homes, where are we supposed to go?” the resident asked.
The protesters also claimed that they had not been given any prior warning or notice about the demolition.
HYDRA officials explained that the demolition targeted illegal structures around Sunnam Cheruvu Lake, which spans 26 acres. Sheds and buildings constructed within the Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones of the lake were dismantled.
HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath stated that many illegal sheds had been set up by encroachers, causing environmental damage. He emphasized that the demolition was necessary and carried out under strict police and municipal supervision.
The commissioner also noted that similar demolitions had been carried out in the past, but illegal structures had been rebuilt. Therefore, the agency once again demolished them to protect the environment.
