Though the rains of the last 10 days have been a boon for drought-prone Chittoor district, continual precipitation has wreaked havoc on life in Tirupati. Waterlogging has made it difficult for citizens to differentiate between roads and drainage canals.
A sudden downpour on Thursday evening caught motorists unaware and traffic came to a halt at several junctions.
On a grimmer note, the body of a 72-year-old ex-serviceman surfaced in a drainage canal near the Lakshmipuram circle. Ex-serviceman G. Ramanaidu had been reported missing for the past three days since the morning of November 16. His body was found in a decayed condition.
According to the Tirupati East Police, the man, hailing from Guttadindivaripalle village in Chinnagotigallu mandal, was currently residing with his family in SBI Colony here. He set out at 4 am on Monday, right in the midst of a downpour, to go to his native village. “Accoring to his family, Mr. Ramanaidu wanted to check out his lands in his native village in view of the heavy rains.
He was supposed to board a bus at 5 am, but must have fallen into a drain while walking to the bus station,” police officials said.
As there was no news of Mr. Ramanaidu’s arrival in his village nor had he returned home, his family began to search for him and then reported the matter to the police, who filed a missing complaint. Three days later, Mr. Ramanaidu's body was found in a drainage canal. The body was handed over to the family members after an autopsy.
Three other deaths were reported in Indira Nagar and Sanjay Gandhi Colony in Tirupati.
Incessant rains create danger lurking at every corner
Police officials attribute the death to accidental slippage of the victim into the drainage canal