Heavy rains lashed the district on Thursday under the influence of a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. Vehicular movement was obstructed in Bellamkonda, Rompicherla and Repalle mandals, where rainwater flowed onto the road at some places.
People staying on the banks of the Krishna were having tense moments due to possibility of flooding of their habitations. The officials of Revenue and other departments were making arrangements to evacuate them to safe places.
Paddy crop in hundreds of acres was submerged because of the downpour. Various other crops were damaged in the district as there were breaches to tanks and rainwater formed into streams.
Inundation
Most towns and villages in the Palnadu area received heavy rain. Low-lying areas were inundated at several places, causing hardship to residents.
The district received a total 2,427.1 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. of Thursday. Bapatla recorded the highest rainfall of 134.2 mm and Atchampet the lowest of 4 mm. The average stood at 42.6 mm, according to sources.
District Collector B. Ramanjaneyulu instructed the officials to monitor the situation and take relief measures immediately.
Meanwhile, two persons – Sheik Syeda (25) and his sister Mabula (22) – were swept away by the water that was flowing over a culvert near Dachepalli. Mabula tried to cross the culvert through which a stream (Votthulavagu) was gushing and was washed away. Syeda, too, was swept off his feet as he tried to rescue his sister.
They were agricultural workers who were returning home in Pedagarapadu from a field in which they were employed.
