Heavy rains lash various parts of Andhra Pradesh

Heavy rains under the influence of low pressure area over Bay of Bengal and active southwest Monsoon lashed various parts of Andhra Pradesh during the last 24 hours. The showers have inundated several low-lying areas in coastal districts especially the East and West Godavari districts in the State, all the streams and rivulets are overflowing with incessant rains hampering road connectivity in rural areas. The water level in River Godavari at Bhadrachalam rose to 16.8 feet by 7.30 pm yesterday, though there is no impending danger at the moment. However, the district administration has been alerted for heavy to very heavy rains forecast for the next 24 hours.

In Kakinada under East Godavari district, water got stagnated in several colonies and suburban areas forcing motorists to wade through knee-deep waters. Baljicheruvu Centre, Suryanarayanapuram area, Ragampeta, Anamma Ghati Area, Sambamurty Nagar Dairy farm centre, Jagannaickpur over bridge and other areas were flooded with rainwater. The area in front of the District Collector's office looked like a water pond.

In Eluru of West Godavari district, normal life came to a standstill in



agency mandals as heavy rains lashed the district. About 80 villages in Velairpadu, Buttayagudem, Polavaram agency mandals were cut off from the outer world, as the rivulets are overflowing. Two shepherds were rescued from Gunderu Vagu rivulet flood in Kukunuru mandal yesterday. Kukunuru and Velairpadu mandals are now facing a flood fury. Kammarigudem village in Velairpadu mandal was marooned as the Peddavagu project gates were lifted following heavy inflow. The ITDA officials shifted the villagers to safer places. About 56 villages were cut off from other areas due to floods. 

According to the Met Department, an upper air cyclonic circulation over west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coast persists and under its influence, a low pressure is likely to form during next 24 hours. The Met office also predicted that heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated place over Konkan and Goa; while heavy rains at isolated places in West Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, South Odisha, South Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala in the next 24 hours.