Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are facing the wrath of exceptionally heavy rainfall for the second day running. The relentless downpour has claimed nine lives and forced the evacuation of over 13,000 people from 294 villages across five districts of Andhra Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts, warning of heavy rainfall for the next five days. The cyclonic depression Asna, which has been causing the incessant rainfall, is expected to move West-Northwest away from the Indian coast within the next 24 hours. The depression, which was previously centered over north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts, crossed the southern state’s coast near Kalingapatnam early Sunday morning. It is currently located over south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh, approximately 90 kilometers north to northwest of Visakhapatnam and 120 kilometers east of Malkangiri.
The IMD has predicted widespread rainfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh for the next 24 hours due to the influence of the depression. They have issued a heavy rainfall alert for parts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Parvatipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Kakinada, and Nandyala districts. Light showers are expected in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, and other districts, including the Rayalaseema region.
Due to heavy inflows, the Krishna river is in spate, prompting the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority to issue a first-level warning at the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada. People living in low-lying areas have been alerted.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the weather situation and instructed senior officials to utilize technologies like drones to assess the flood damage and plan relief efforts.
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha reported that 13,227 people were evacuated from 294 villages across five districts due to the torrential rainfall. “Until now nine people died due to the heavy rains. Police, NDRF and SDRF teams rescued 600 people from the marooned places. As many as 17 NDRF and SDRF teams undertook rescue operations at 22 submerged places in seven districts,” she said in an official release.
The state government has established 100 rehabilitation centers in NTR, Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, and Palnadu districts to accommodate the evacuees. Additionally, 61 medical camps have been set up.
Vijayawada Municipal Commissioner H M Dhyanachandra revealed that the Budameru canal is overflowing in several areas, leading to breaches and submergence of up to 12 wards. To control the inflows, upstream gates have been closed. Approximately 3,000 people were evacuated from the affected areas.
