Heavy rains lash Andhra, damage crops

Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Andhra Pradesh for the second day Wednesday, inundating low lying areas and damaging crops over thousands of acres.

Rivulets, tanks and streams were overflowing in south coastal Andhra and parts of Rayalaseema, cutting off dozens of villages, officials said.

One person died in Guntur district while four were missing in Prakasam district which bore the brunt of heavy downpour under the impact of a low pressure area over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal.

Several villages in Prakasam district plunged into darkness as electricity supply was disrupted due to heavy rain. Water entered houses in various towns of the district. The state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation also suspended its services.

Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds also lashed north coastal Andhra. Trees were uprooted in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.

Normal life was affected in Kadapa and Kurnool districts of Rayalaseema due to incessant rains.

Hyderabad also received heavy rains Wednesday, inundating roads and throwing traffic out of gear during rush hours in the evening.

According to preliminary reports, crops over 87,896 hectares were damaged. They include paddy (61,953 hectares) and cotton (24,003 hectares). Officials said 187 families from low lying areas in Visakhapatnam district were evacuated and shifted to relief camps.

In Ongole town of Prakasam district, 3,500 people were evacuated and shifted to seven relief camps.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation and directed officials to take up evacuation of people from low lying areas.

The met office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rain at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema Thursday and Friday. Heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Telangana.