Hyderabad is currently experiencing severe traffic congestion across its key corridors and national highways as a massive exodus for the Sankranti festival is underway. Thousands of residents are heading to their native places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, causing significant delays and traffic snarls. The rush intensified dramatically on Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, with traffic volumes peaking on arterial roads within the city and on outbound routes. The Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway, in particular, witnessed intense traffic, with long queues of vehicles stretching for several kilometres and bumper-to-bumper movement. Reports indicate that the Pathangi toll plaza recorded nearly 70,000 vehicles crossing overnight, with expectations of up to 80,000 vehicles by the end of Saturday at the Panthangi toll plaza, a four-fold increase from its daily average. In response to the unprecedented rush, Hyderabad Traffic Police issued advisories, deploying additional personnel at choke points and urging citizens to plan journeys in advance, avoid peak hours, and utilize public transport. Surveillance drones were deployed along National Highway-65 to monitor traffic flow in real-time and identify congestion points, aiding ground teams in rapid response. Beyond road travel, railway stations like Secunderabad and Vijayawada also reported an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic. To alleviate the pressure, South Central Railway announced the operation of approximately 150 special trains to accommodate the Sankranti rush, primarily serving the Telugu states. These measures highlight the substantial public movement during the festival, corroborating the initial claims of choked roads and peaking traffic.