Heavy rains lash Andhra, hit normal life

Heavy rains on Wednesday in parts of Andhra Pradesh bordering Tamil Nadu hit normal life, damaged crops and disrupted road and rail transport, officials said.

Nellore, Chittoor and Prakasam districts have been experiencing rains for the last two days, inundating low-lying areas.

Streams and tanks were overflowing due to incessant rains. Standing crops have been damaged in several areas. Roads were inundated, disrupting traffic.

With met office forecasting rain for another two days, the authorities in the three districts were on high alert.

All trains between Nellore and Chennai have been cancelled, causing hardship to commuters. Authorities in Nellore district have shifted 5,000 people from affected areas to 50 relief camps.

Holiday was declared for educational institutions in Chittoor district.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a video conference with officials and reviewed the situation.

This is the third time since last month that the region is experiencing heavy rains under the impact of low pressure in Bay of Bengal.

According to the state government, there have been 35 deaths on account of heavy rains from November 9 to 12 and from November 15 to 19 in Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa districts.

Crops in over two lakh hectares have been damaged and up to 1,865 km of roads have been affected.

The fresh rains hit the region even as a detailed enumeration of the losses due to earlier spells was yet to be completed, officials said.

A tentative assessment put the loss at Rs.3,000 crore. The state has sought Rs.1,000 crore as immediate assistance from the central government for relief and restoration in affected districts.