Heavy rains disrupt normal life in Andhra Pradesh

Metro India News | Amaravati

Heavy rains lashed several parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly the north coastal region, disrupting normal life, inundating roads and fields and uprooting trees. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shared on Thursday, Visakhapatnam recorded the highest rainfall at 28 cm, followed by Koyyalagudem at 20 cm and Bheemunipatnam, Kakinada and Peddapuram at 15 cm each.

Several places received more than 5 cm of rain in the past 24 hours. Floodwaters inundated main roads connecting Anakapalli and Chodavaram, bringing traffic to a halt.

At Peddakatha village in Vizianagaram district, family members and relatives of a deceased person had to wade through floodwaters while carrying the body. Several ponds, canals and rivulets overflowed in Parvatipuram Manyam district following heavy rain over the past two to three days.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the weather situation and directed district administrations to remain alert, as rainfall was expected on Thursday and Friday. He instructed officials to immediately restore road connectivity in areas affected by heavy water flow and alert residents in landslide-prone areas.

The deep depression that brought heavy rainfall to parts of Andhra Pradesh crossed the coast near Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district between 11 pm on Wednesday and 1 am on Thursday, the IMD said.

The system moved west-northwestwards at about 3 kmph and was centred at 8.30 am on Thursday over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha, about 70 km west-northwest of Kalingapatnam and 80 km south-southeast of Rayagada.

The weather system was accompanied by winds of up to 75 kmph. The IMD said it was likely to move north-northwestwards and weaken into a depression by Thursday evening, weakening further over the next 24 hours.

Vijayawada in NTR district also witnessed continuous rain since Wednesday morning, inundating several low-lying areas. Several schools declared a holiday for the second consecutive day.