17 killed as heavy rains wreak havoc in Andhra
Heavy rains continued to lash Andhra Pradesh on Friday, leaving 17 people dead and forcing the evacuation of 67,419 others from low-lying areas.
Seventeen people were killed in various rain-related incidents as the downpour continued for the fourth consecutive day on Friday even as two others were also missing, official sources said in Hyderabad.
They said 135 relief camps have been set up in the coastal districts, which bore the brunt of the rain fury.
Standing paddy, maize, cotton, redgram and crops were inundated in about 2.5 lakh hectares.
As heavy rains led to submergence of low-lying areas and also overflowing of several rivers, rivulets and other water bodies, nine teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed for rescue and relief work.
The sources said 3050 houses suffered damages and 110 cattle also perished due to the rains.
Officials said about 117 minor irrigation tanks suffered breaches, and landslides were experienced at the hat road leading to the temple town of Srisailam in Kurnool district.
Vehicular traffic has also been diverted.
The Met office had said on Thursday that heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain at isolated places would occur in all the districts of coastal Andhra and Telangana during the next 48 hours.
There was a similar forecast for isolated places over Rayalaseema during the same period, it said.
The heavy rains triggered by northeast monsoon and a low pressure area over Bay of Bengal during the last three days paralysed normal life in several parts of AP, particularly coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
The downpur led to water logging in several towns and villages across the coastal district disrupting public transport.
Hyderabad has also experienced incessant rains which resulted in inundation of low-lying areas and water-logging on the roads.
Our Staff Reporter from Srikakulam adds
Flood situation worsens in Srikakulam district
Flood situation in Srikakulam district has further worsened in Srikakulam district with the continuous downpour in the catchment of Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Bahuda rivers.
Bahuda river received 75,000 cusecs of water by 1.00 p.m. on Friday, causing heavy floods to Itchapuram, Sompeta and other areas. Nagavali which was calm till yesterday is in full spate, posing a threat to the lives of many in several mandals including Srikakulam and Amudalavalasa.
It has received 39,480 cusecs of water at old bridge of Srikakulam while Vamasadhara received 82890 cusecs at Gotta barrage.
More than 5500 lorries and other vehicles had to stop at various places with no chance for moving further towards Odisha. RTC also suspended services between Palasa and Itchapuram as rainwater flooded the national highway. Srikakulam Collector Saurabh Gaur declared holiday on Friday too with hundreds of villages marooned. Rain water entered into several school premises in Srikakulam town.
Several villages including Pedavenkatapuram, Patapadu, Purushottampuram and Parvatalapeta of Sarubujjili mandal were inundated.
The district administration was struggling to supply food and drinking water the flood victims of the village. Poalki, Srikakulam mandals were also badly affected on Friday. The road network to Dola, Govindapuram, Pallepeta, Urajam was cut off with the heavy inflows into Vamsadhara river.
