AMN /
Incessant rains continued to lash parts of Andhra Pradesh, especially the south coast and Rayalaseema region marooning several villages and disrupting road and rail traffic. Swarnamukhi, Kaivalya and Kalangi rivers are in spate inundating several villages in Guduru, Sullurupet, Naidupet and Nellore mandals.
So far two women have been killed in rain related incidents during the last 48 hours. Over three thousand people have been shifted to relief shelters from low-lying areas in Nellore district and NDRF teams are involved in rescue operations. Schools and educational institutions were declared holiday following the deluge.
AP Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas visited the flood hit regions in Nellore district yesterday and assured the people of all possible help from the government. He reviewed the relief measures and inquired with the officials on further measures to be undertaken. The railways have cancelled several trains and diverted some due to incessant rains in Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh as flood waters were overflowing at railway bridges on Chennai-Gudur section. With the cancellation or partial cancellation or diversion of several train services, the South Central Railway has set up help line numbers at major stations to provide information to the rail passengers.
The railway helpline numbers are: Secunderabad – 040-27786170, 040-27700868 and 040-27786539; Vijayawada – 0866-2575038; Guntur – 0863-2222014 and Gudur – 7842307029.
The floodwaters are overflowing on Chennai-Kolkata highway between Guduru-Naidupeta disrupting vehicular traffic. KVB Puram, Satyaveedu, Sullurupet, Naidupet, Guduru, Nagiri and Chandragiri areas in the two districts were covered under a sheet of water. The low pressure and upper air circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal which is moving slowly is causing prolonged wet spell making the northeast monsoon more vigorous over Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Intermittent rains lashed Puducherry last night. Its intensity came down by early hours. Rivers Sankarabharani and Thenpennyaru are in spate as Veedur and Sathanur Damas are full and overflowing. Most people residing on their banks were shifted to safer places. Water gushing out of lakes has inundated many residential areas making it difficult for people to come out. There are fears of infectious diseases spreading as water logging continues.
Administration has extended holidays for yet another day for schools and colleges in Puducherry and Karaikal. Union Territory Administration is not taking any chance as Met office has predicted rains in the next three days. Meanwhile, District Collector asks people not to believe in rumours spread through social media and confirm every detail from the Emergency Operation Centre.
Toll free numbers are provided for the purpose. Police, Coast Guard and special Emergency Support Teams are keeping round the clock vigil and is attending to every call for help. Two NDRF teams are expected to reach Puducherry today to augment rescue operations. Boats are being used to ferry people from marooned areas.