Heavy rains lashed Tirupati in the late hours of Thursday and continued till Friday morning. The incessant downpour led to inundation of several low lying areas and flooding of interior colonies. Power remained disrupted in many areas till Friday morning.
The railway under-bridge near Tirupati East police station was submerged, forcing residents from the south of the city to take a detour. Sankarambadi Sundarachari Circle and Tiruchanur Road were among of the worst-hit areas. Parking lots of several apartments in the city were flooded. The ‘Vanam Manam’ programme suffered a setback at several places as the arrangements for the event went haywire. Municipal Corporation of Tirupati officials plunged into action to restore normality, by deploying earth movers and cranes.
Post the rain, several smaller streams and rivulets poured into Swarnamukhi river, which witnessed a full flow. Water level almost touched the culverts near Tiruchanur,
Thondavada and Chiguruvada, apart from submerging causeways in several places. It may be recalled here that it was during the floods last October-November that the Swarnamukhi was seen flowing after more than a decade.
According to official records, Chittoor district received bountiful showers for the entire month of July, up to the early hours of Friday. As many as 50 out of the 66 mandals recorded ‘excess’ rainfall, which has kindled hopes of farming among the farmers. Molakalacheruvu, Pedda Thippa Samudram, Gurramkonda, Kalikiri, Yerpedu and Satyavedu received normal rainfall, while Srikalahasti, Thottambedu, B.N. Kandriga, Kalakada and B. Kothakota came under the ‘deficient’ category.
However, the first three eastern mandals are generally known to record very high rainfall during this period and the ‘deficient’ here could be construed as a relative term, as it is in comparison with the previous year’s figures.
Landslide on ghat road
Incessant rain on Thursday night resulted in landslips at a couple of places on the second ghat road leading to Tirumala. However, no untoward incident was reported.
Vehicle drivers were asked by security personnel at the Alipiri toll gate — the threshold to the hill town — to drive with caution. The debris was cleared and there was no interruption in the vehicular traffic.
The light showers, which initially enthralled the devout in the evening, transformed into heavy rain by night.
Devotees coming out of the temple after the darshan during night as well as those attending the pre-dawn rituals on Friday had to face difficulties.
Several streams and water bodies along the Tirumala ranges sprang back to their life. The citizens of Tirupati woke up to a resurgence in the Kapila Theertham water falls and the Malvadi Gundem flowing to its full course.
