Intermittent heavy rain lashed several places in the region on Thursday, flooding several low-lying areas and disrupting normal life under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, ‘Laila', in the Bay of Bengal. Policemen kept a strict vigil along the coast as the sea conditions remained very rough throughout the day. The steady drizzle that started from the early hours of the day gathered momentum by afternoon. Most people preferred to remain indoors.
Some of the low-lying areas like Railway New Colony, Poorna Market and Sebastian Colony were under a sheet of water after the heavy downpour. Busy junctions like Siripuram and Asilmetta also saw water flooding a few places. People had a tough time wading through the water pools during the evening.
Heavy rain likely
A bulletin issued by the Cyclone Warning Centre said that the cyclonic storm had crossed the coast close to Bapatla and lay stationary near Bapatla at 2100 hrs. The system was likely to weaken gradually and move initially in a northerly direction and then recurve in the northeasterly direction towards Orissa. Under the influence of this system, widespread rain with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cm or more) is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 24 hours. Gale force wind with speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast during next 12 hours. Sea conditions will continue to be very high along and off coastal AP. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea. The weather officials said that the system was under constant watch and its course of directions was being closely monitored.
Vishnu's directive
Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu on Thursday ordered that the silt in the Yerrigedda storm water drain be removed to ensure flow.
The Commissioner toured Poorna Market, Prasad Gardens, Sea Horse Junction and Stadium Road to see the ongoing work to remove silt and garbage to ensure flow of drains following rain in the city.
If necessary, people should move to safer areas on the suggestion of the officials.
During his visit, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao instructed that the drain near Dolhin Hotel should be totally de-silted and a box culvert be constructed there. Similarly, at Perika Street drains should be constructed to ensure smooth flow of water. He visited Kobbarithota, Jnanapuram, Sebastian Colony and SL Canal, Gangulagedda and Yerrigedda.
Right from the morning municipal sanitary workers were on the job removing silt and more importantly, the plastic waste carelessly thrown by people into the drains. The Old Bus Stand and 75-feet-road areas in One Town were badly hit.
The Siripuram Main Road, Poorna Market and Railway New Colony were among the areas that were inundated by rain.
