PNS|Kurnool
Vehicular traffic was thrown out of gear on the Andhra–Karnataka state highway after a stretch of the road was submerged in rainwater near Chintakunta village in Halharvi mandal on Sunday.
According to official sources, around 200 metres of the highway was inundated under nearly two feet of water as the Katravanka stream overflowed due to heavy rains in the catchment areas.
With construction work underway on the national highway, a temporary bridge had been laid. However, the entire section was submerged, forcing authorities to divert vehicles via alternate routes. Officials said the disruption is likely to continue for two days.
Meanwhile, torrential rains lashed several parts of the district on Saturday and Sunday, paralysing daily life. Streams, canals and ‘nalas’ are overflowing. The Budagavi stream breached its banks, inundating agricultural lands and roads to villages including Vidapanakallu, R Kottala, Penchulapadu, Poliki, Uravakonda, Undabanda, Palturu and Malhapuram, severing road connectivity.
In Prakasam district, 22 sheep were killed after being struck by lightning at JP Cheruvu near Racharla village. A large tree was uprooted and blocked access to the renowned Ranganayaka Swamy temple at Nemaligundla. Several low-lying areas were also flooded due to the heavy downpour.
Vijayawada city experienced intense rain for an hour, disrupting normal life as many key roads were inundated in knee-deep water. However, residents welcomed the showers as they brought relief from the oppressive heat.
A trough currently extends from the southeast Bay of Bengal to north Kerala via central Tamil Nadu and is tilting southwestward with height. Under its influence, isolated heavy rainfall is expected in Rayalaseema over the next three days, in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on May 20, 21, and 22, and in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 22.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (40–50 km/h) are also likely to occur at isolated places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema over the next five days.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are forecast at many places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema over the next week.
In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded at Gorantla (Sri Sathya Sai district), Uravakonda (Anantapur), Kurnool, and Amadagur (Sri Sathya Sai). The report said rain occurred at a few places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and at most places across Rayalaseema.
