Heavy rains claim 14 lives in Andhra Pradesh

As many as 14 people were killed as heavy rains lashed coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions for the third successive day on Tuesday under the influence of a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.

"The death toll of 14 includes 7 in Guntur district, 6 in Karimnagar district and one in Medak district," Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao told newsmen on Tuesday evening. Unofficial reports, however, put the toll at 27, with 15 deaths in Karimnagar, seven in Guntur, three in Medak and two in Warangal.

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who reviewed the flood situation in the state with senior officials, announced an cash compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to the next of kin of those who died due to current rains and floods. Of this, Rs 1 lakh would be paid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Rs 50,000 under Apathbandhu (accident insurance), an official in the Chief Minister's office said.

The Revenue Minister said that over the last 72 hours, all the three regions of the state received heavy rainfall, ranging from 62.7 mm in Rayalaseema region and 96.8 mm in coastal Andhra to 117.3 mm in Telangana region. Karimnagar district was the worst-hit due to the rains and floods. As many as 43 tanks breached in this district, inundating several villages. Several areas in Karimnagar town were 4-5 feet underwater. Educational institutions and offices in the town were closed.

Heavy rains have also affected normal life in Adilabad, Warangal and Khammam districts in Telangana. The district authorities have been asked by the government to move people from vulnerable villages to safer areas in view of the rising levels in river Godavari and its tributaries like Pranahita. There are heavy inflows of floodwaters in Lower Manair Dam in Karimnagar district. Road traffic has been affected on the major highways in the north Telangana districts. The state-owned AP State Road Transport Corporation suspended bus services to some areas.

Anticipating a heavy discharge of flood waters of over 10 lakh cusecs from the upper riparian States, the State government issued a flood alert all along the banks of the river Godavari, the Revenue Minister pointed out.

Heavy rains on the Andhra-Orissa border have also caused flooding in the rivers and rivulets in north coastal Andhra districts-Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. Heavy rains have also battered the south coastal districts like Guntur and Prakasam.

The Hyderabad Meteorological Centre said the Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Telangana and active over coastal Andhra and isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema under the influence of a low pressure area. As per the forecast, moderate to rather heavy rains/thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over Telangana and at many places over coastal Andhra Pradesh. Light to moderate rains/ thundershowers are likely to occur at a f few places over Rayalaseema.

The Met Centre also issued a heavy rainfall warning for Adilabad, Khammam, and Karimnagar and Warangal districts in Telangana during the next 48 hours.

Isolated heavy rain is likely to occur in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period, as upper air cyclonic circulation associated with Monday's low pressure, lay over north coastal Andhra region and extended up to mid-troposphere levels.