HYDERABAD: The flood situation in Andhra Pradesh turned grim on Friday as torrential rains in the wake of the weakening depression left a trail of death and destruction in North Coastal Andhra and later inundated large areas in North Telangana.

Srikakulam, the town with a population of over one lakh, was virtually marooned as water gushed into habitations from the Nagavali after the swollen river breached an embankment. Several localities in the town were under neck-deep water. However, the National Highway to Visakhapatnam was open.

At least 40 persons died in rain and floods in hundreds of villages in Srikakulam (toll three), Vizianagaram (14) Visakhapatnam (12), East Godavari (nine), Khammam (one) and Adilabad (one) districts. The toll may mount since the exact number of deaths in a massive landslip in Vizianagaram are not yet known.

An alarming situation prevailed in Khammam district as the Godavari crossed the third danger level of 53 ft in the evening at Bhadrachalam. The authorities fear that the rapid rate at which the mighty river is rising, its level may touch the 63-feet mark, the highest in two decades, at this famous temple town by Saturday morning. In this event, hundreds of villages downstream are likely to be inundated.

Flights were suspended from Visakhapatnam for the second day as the tarmac as well as the approach roads leading to the airport were water- logged. Train services were dislocated on the Visakhapatnam-Koraput and Visakhapatnam-Kirandul sections due to landslips. In Hyderabad, normal life was affected by intermittent rain.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is leaving on a two-day tour of the flood-affected areas in North Coastal Andhra on Saturday morning. After making an aerial survey of Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, he will visit the scene of the landslide in Vizianagaram and go to East Godavari on Sunday.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail