Central and Coastal Andhra Pradesh reeled under heavy rainfall and several areas got inundated and an elderly woman died after getting crushed under a wall in Rompicharla mandal of Guntur district.
At least a dozen mandals in East Godavari district received unprecedented rainfall of above 100 mm on Wednesday, causing inundation of many low lying areas and water logging on the roads.
Highest rainfall of 164 mm was recorded in Pamarru mandal of East Godavari District among the three delta districts including Krishna District, where totally 18 cm rainfall was recorded.
Rains continued to pound Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari districts under the impact of low pressure in Bay of Bengal along the coast. Marella Subbayamma, 78, died after a brick wall collapsed on her, said Revenue officials.
In another incident, a 9-year old boy who went missing at Kuppaganji vagu at Nadendla mandal, was yet to be traced. The boy ventured into the swirling waters and was feared washed away.
Guntur district received an average rain of 33 mm on Wednesday, almost double that of Tuesday’s rainfall. The rainfall recorded was 2111.1 mm and Bapatla received the highest at 119.6 mm. District Collector S. Suresh Kumar reviewed the situation with revenue officials and instructed them to be alert.
The incessant rain caused partial damage to cotton, chilli and other horticultural crops in the district.
Horticultural crops in Tenali division and Chilli crop in Guntur bore the brunt. Cotton being cultivated in Amaravathi too was affected and persistent rain could result in discolouration of the cotton.
Officials gear up to avert damage
Life across the Krishna-Godavari delta region in Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari on Wednesday came to a standstill as heavy rain battered consecutively for the third day due to vigorous North East monsoon.
In Krishna District, Kruthuvennu and Kalidindi mandals received heavy rainfall of above 100 mm while other locations experienced moderate rains. In West Godavari district, heavy rainfall was recorded in Palakollu, Mogalturu and Kalla mandals.
District authorities led by the respective district Collectors on Wednesday geared up to avoid any damage due to rain and deployed teams in the low lying areas.
“Necessary arrangements are being made to help the needy,” Krishna District Collector M. Raghunandan Rao told newsmen.
On the other hand, majority of the boats operating on the coastline of the Krishna-Godavari region are still waiting for suitable conditions on the sea for fishing. Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to be recorded in most places of Coastal Andhra Pradesh in next 48 hours.
