Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
At least 31 people have died, and over 17,000 have been evacuated from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as incessant rain continues to cause devastation across the states, leading to widespread flooding.
The Telangana government on September 2 stepped up relief measures following heavy rains in the state which led to inundation of low-lying areas. The affected people were shifted to relief camps at some places in the state.
Life was completely thrown out of gear in Vijayawada following torrential downpours over the past three days and with more than 24 hours of power cuts in several parts of the city. There was severe disruption to internet and mobile telephone connectivity, and long traffic jams disrupted normal life, including connectivity to Hyderabad.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the flood - affected areas in and around Vijayawada city well past midnight and was on the field till about 3 a.m. in spite of security concerns as the Krishna River flood fury continued for the third day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured Naidu of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis following heavy rains in the state.
Modi spoke to Naidu over the phone to enquire about the prevailing flood situation in the state where several places, Vijayawada being one of the worst affected, are being pounded by heavy rainfall due to a depression.
With parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reeling from torrential rains, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged Congress leaders and workers to mobilise all available resources to support the ongoing relief and rescue efforts. Gandhi asserted that the Telangana Government is working tirelessly to manage the crisis and initiate the rebuilding process.
Internet and mobile telephone connectivity were disrupted and long traffic snarls disrupted normal life. Connectivity to Hyderabad was affected. Transportation within Vijayawada city and its vicinity was chaotic.
"The flood waters situation is the same. Water levels reduced just a little and rainfall resumed. There are fears that power connectivity will not be restored until the water level subsides," M Sailaja, an Ajit Singh Nagar resident told PTI on September 2.
Ajit Singh Nagar is one of the worst affected localities in Vijayawada, which bore the brunt of Budameru floods, a rivulet on the outskirts of the city.
Traffic on the Hyderabad - Vijayawada National Highway was diverted due to rainwater overflowing on the road.
Due to the forecast of heavy rains in Hyderabad district, a holiday has been declared for all primary and secondary schools, under all managements (Government, Aided, and Private) on September 2, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the children.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for six districts in the state, while thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are forecast for other areas.
The base of the pillar at Gate No. 69 in Prakasam Barrage was damaged when a few traditional wooden boats got unmoored in the upstream and came floating in the flood waters and got struck in the gate on September 2.
A portion of gravel under the railway track near Kesamudram in Mahabubabad district was washed away due to floodwaters, resulting in passengers on a train being stranded at Kesamudram railway station.
State Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari Anasuya visited rain-affected areas in the Mahabubabad district and enquired about the relief measures taken up and about help provided to those who were shifted to relief camps.
Nine victims were from Andhra Pradesh while Telangana reported 10 fatalities. Three more people are feared to have been washed away in the floodwaters in Andhra, while one person is missing in Telangana, according to PTI.
In Telangana, at least 16 people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents and the state government on Monday put the damage at Rs 5,000 crore citing preliminary estimates. It sought an immediate Central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore.
