Rains paralyse life in AP; trigger floods

WG, EG, and Visakhapatnam districts worst affected
Continuous rains due to a low-pressure system wreaked havoc in the combined districts of West Godavari, East Godavari, and Visakhapatnam on Friday. The heavy downpour severely disrupted normal life in Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, and Visakhapatnam, while vast crop losses across thousands of acres were reported.
In the East Godavari district, the Yerrakaluva drain is experiencing severe flooding. Several villages, including Kamsalipalem, Ravimetla, and Singavaram in Nidadavole mandal, have been inundated. Floodwaters have severed road connectivity to many villages in the Nidadavole division.
Tourism Minister K. Durgesh, accompanied by Collector P. Prashanthi, visited some of the flood-affected areas in East Godavari district today. The Minister assured farmers that steps would be taken to provide financial assistance for the crop losses. Collector Prashanthi directed officials to relocate residents from low-lying areas to safer locations. The Godavari River is in spate due to heavy rains in the catchment areas. Collector P. Prashanthi inspected the flood situation at Dowleswaram barrage, where the water level stood at 11 feet, with 3.50 lakh cusecs of floodwater being discharged into the sea.
She ordered officials to remain alert for the next two days. Sources indicate that crops over 7,000 acres in P. Gannavaram, Rajanagaram, Anaparti, Mandapeta, Amalapuram, and Kothapeta constituencies have been affected.
The Peddavagu stream breached in several places, flooding Kammarigudem, Allinagaram, Medepalli, Madhavaram, Ramavaram, Gullavai, and Ongibanda villages. MLA Chirri Balaraju visited the affected villages and personally arranged food and water for the residents.
In Eluru district, Collector K. Vetri Selvi and SP K. Prathap Shiva Kishore inspected the flood-affected areas in Velerupadu mandal on Friday and reviewed the situation with officials. The Collector ordered the evacuation of pregnant women, children, and the elderly to relief centres. The Collector and SP travelled by motorcycle to reach the flood-hit villages. Official sources reported 269 mm of rainfall in the Eluru district, with the highest recorded at 269 mm in Velerupadu mandal, followed by 268 mm in Buttayagudem mandal and 178 mm in Kukkunuru mandal.
The Collector warned that the Godavari floodwaters are expected to rise in the coming days. DEO S. Abraham declared a holiday for all educational institutions in Eluru and Jangareddygudem divisions on Friday due to the continuous rain.
In Visakhapatnam, major thoroughfares were submerged in up to two feet of water, severely disrupting normal life. Key areas, including Railway Station Road, Ramakrishna Theatre Road, Velama Veedi, and Poorna Market area, were inundated. Floodwaters overflowed the road from the R&B office to Birla Centre on the service road.
All educational institutions in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and ASR districts declared a holiday on Friday due to the relentless rain. All irrigation canals, drains, and streams in the combined West Godavari, East Godavari, and Visakhapatnam districts are overflowing with floodwaters. However, no rain-related deaths have been reported so far.