The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Flood toll rises to 23, low pressure persists

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Flood toll rises to 23, low pressure persists

Special Correspondent

Heavy rain in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and Godavari districts forecast

Many trains cancelled or diverted
Kolkata-Chennai highway under knee-deep water

On a Mission: Villagers trying to recover a four-wheeler which was washed away due to heavy downpour near Sullurpet in Nellore district on Tuesday. (Right) A helicopter pressed into service for supplying food packets to the flood-hit in Allur and Kavali mandals.

HYDERABAD: Rain lashed South Andhra with unabated fury for the third day on Tuesday, worsening the flood situation in Nellore, Kadapa, Chittoor and Prakasam districts, as the low pressure system persisted combined with an “upper air cyclonic circulation” this time.

The toll rose to 23 with Nellore accounting for 15 deaths, Kadapa seven and Chittoor one.

The low pressure area remained stationary in the sea without weakening as predicted, keeping the monsoon vigorous. Heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast for Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and twin Godavari districts on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall recorded

On Tuesday, Kavali recorded a heavy rainfall of 35 cm, highest in the recent times, while Nellore and Atmakur received 17 cm each and Guntur and Rapur 13 cm each. Rayachoti in Kadapa reported 10 cm.

The Bay of Bengal remained ‘rough’ and winds blew along and off the coast at 40 to 50 kmph.

The night-long operation in Kadapa district ended on a happy note with 18 out of the 22 persons standing on the ill-fated bus caught in the waters being brought to safety with the help of a boat.

The swollen stream, however, claimed seven lives, including a constable and two home-guards who tried to save them.

Two passengers were found dead inside the bus.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who reached the city, took stock of the situation at the Collectors’ conference, while two choppers para-dropped food packets and water sachets over the marooned areas in Nellore and Kadapa districts.

Life in Nellore and three adjoining districts turned grim with floodwater or releases made by the projects like Somasila, Swarnamukhi, Buggavanka, Rallapadu and Gundlakamma inundating about 100 villages and crops.

Repair of rail tracks

Railways took up repair of the track that sank into the waters near Gudur on war-footing but a large number of trains remained cancelled or diverted for the second day. Amidst rain and with stretches of many roads coming under water, the RTC too could do little from its side.

About 50 tanks breached in the four districts.

The Kolkata-Chennai highway that passes through the affected districts, came under knee deep water at several points.

Water-logged

About 20 persons were trapped on a piece of lands amidst waters of Penna Buggeru in Nellore district before they were saved by villagers. Many habitations in Kavali and Gudur areas of Nellore and Nandalur of Kadapa were water-logged. Disaster Management Commissioner Preeti Sudan said 120 relief camps had been opened to benefit nearly 15,000 people.

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