An overcast sky prevailed in the port city all through the day on Sunday, except for brief spells when the sunrays reached the earth for a few minutes. There was no rain except for a few showers in the morning.
The rains during the past few days have resulted in copious inflows into the reservoirs.
The depression over north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal off south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts, crossed the coast near Gopalpur and Puri around 6.30 a.m. on Sunday. It is about 90 km south-east of Phulbani and the system would move north-west wards and weaken gradually into a well marked low pressure area during the next 24 hours. Under its influence, strong surface winds from a westerly direction with speed reaching 45 to 50 KMPH gusting to 60 KMPH likely to be blown along and off north coastal AP.
Strong surface winds from a westerly direction with speed 45 to 50 Kmph are likely along and off south coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours, according to a spokesman of the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) here.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off north coastal AP. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places in coastal AP during the next 24 hours.
The rainfall recorded (in cm) during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. is as follows: Itchapuram – 20, Sompeta – 12, Kalingapatnam – 11, Mandasa – 9, Cheepurapalle, Garividi, Ranasthalam, Palasa – 8 each, Tiruvur, Balijapeta and Jiyyammavalasa – 6 each, Pusapatirega, Garugabilli, Polavaram, Veeraghattam, Denkada, Vizianagaram, Chintalapudi, Therlam – 5, Nellimarla, Palakonda, Merakamudidam, Tekkali, Gajapathinagaram and Bondapalli – 4 each, Araku Valley, Paderu, Visakhapatnam Airport and Chintapalli – 3 each and Visakhapatnam city received 2 cm.
Farmers a happy lot
Meanwhile, while rains disrupted normal life, farmers in the State are in a jubilant mood, with both Krishna and Godavari rivers receiving good inflows in June itself. The sown area is expected to increase by 20,000 hectares this year. Normally, paddy cultivation is taken up in 1.95 lakh hectares but it would be around 2.15 lakh hectares this time.
Joint Director of Agriculture (Srikakulam) K. Ch. Appala Swamy said that 21 out of 38 mandals received excess rainfall so far. Meanwhile, traffic on the road leading from Chillakallu in Jaggaiahpeta mandal of Krishna district to Wyra in Khammam was suspended for several hours as rain water overflowed on the causeway near Lingala village. Officials monitored the situation and took necessary action for preventing any untoward incident.
Heavy rains are reported in West Godavari district. The downpour affected groundwork of Polavaram and Pattiseema projects. The sea was rough at Tippalavalasa and other villages in Vizianagaram district.
Fishermen alerted
Officials prevented fishermen from venturing into the sea as more rains were forecast in the next 48 hours. Control rooms were set up at all Collectors’ offices to keep a watch on the situation as more rains were forecast.
