Heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh likely in next 48 hours

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Heavy rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to continue for the next two days due to presence of low pressure over North Bay of Bengal. Isolated places in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, East and West Godavari, Guntur and Krishna received moderate rain on Friday, and this would continue for the next 48 hours. In Rayalaseema region, light rains occured due to active monsoon.

Though Rajamahendravaram and its surrounding areas did not witness heavy rainfall on Friday, the Godavari river water level at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage (Dowleswaram barrage) rose to 8.75 feet. Irrigation authorities released 3.6 lakh cusecs of water in the sea by lifting up 175 gates to 0.77 mtrs.
Apart from that, the district officials of both East and West Godavari issued high alerts to the people in low-lying areas and lanka villages. The district officials are ready to evacuate them and move them to safe places, in case the rain turn bad.

The lanka villages, Utimudi lanka, Aregelavaripeta, Burugulanka, and G Pedapudilanka of P Gannavaram mandal in East Godavari, lost road transport facilities, as the connecting approach road became full of water. The authorities arranged two engine boats for commuting between villages after Kartikeya Mishra, District collector’s instructions.

BV Ramana, Revenue Divisional Officer who visited the affected villages, said, “Though there are no persistent rains, it will take another 1- 2 days to remove the water from the villages. Till then, we will be monitoring the situation and we are ready with food items, in order to be self sufficient in case of emergency. We have also set up a medical camp which works round the clock.”

On Friday, maximum rainfall of about 29 mm was recorded at Munchigipattu of Visakhapatnam, and heavy rain varying from 17-44 mm occurred at Srikakulam, Guntur and Visakhapatnam.

In Vijayawada region and Krishna district, moderate rain occurred on Friday. Light showers occurred throughout the day in urban areas, while in rural areas like Challapalli, Kankipadu, Nandigama, and isolated places of the district, heavy rain occurred.

As per INCOIS prediction, high waves of the range 3.0 – 3.4 meters will occur around 5.30 am on July 14 to 11.30 pm of July 15 along the coast of Andhra Pradesh from Dugarajapatnam, Nellore District to Baruva, and Srikakulam District. Current speeds vary between 151 – 209 cm per second.

Under strong monsoon conditions, strong surface winds from Westerly direction with speed reaching 50-55 kmph are likely along and off South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and strong surface winds from Westerly direction with speed reaching 40-45 kmph are likely along and off North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The sea is predicted to be rough to very rough.

According to IMD officials, the cyclonic circulation over north Coastal Odisha and neighbourhood persists and now even extends up to 5.8 km above the mean sea level.

3000 cusecs of water to be released from Prakasam Barrage

Vijayawada: With heavy inflow from Munneru, Paleru and Kattaleru rivers reaching Prakasam Barrage, the Water Resources department is mulling to release 3,000-4,000 cusecs of water downstream. “It rained in Telangana this week. So, we got water from Munneru, Paleru and other rivers. However, the rains have stopped and we are monitoring the situation. If necessary, we’ll release water downstream after Friday midnight,” an official said. 

Rains make Vijayawada roads dangerous for motorists

Vijayawada: It has become dangerous for road users to ply on arterial roads in Vijayawada as they have become slushy and inundated with water due to rains. A bike fell into a ditch on a road near Amma Kalyana Mandapam and broke into two on Thursday night. The portion which was not cemented into a road on Kannur Road near NTR Circle has become a slush-pile.

“The cement roads were laid haphazardly and muddy water has flooded the cement stretches. The cemented roads could not prevent the road from turning to a slush,” said B Manikanta, a resident of Kannur Road.  CH Gurunadh, another resident, said, “In the Amaravati colony, through which the Kannur road passes, the situation is worse because no portion of the road is cemented.” Autonagar, which is the epicentre of the goods vehicles in the city, is struggling the most.

“Heavy vehicles, such as lorries, pass through this area and often get stuck, especially in the disposal center where vehicles are repaired and spare parts are sold. There have been some collisions between the vehicles, and the rain has increased the likelihood of an accident ,” said Narasimha Rao, a lorry driver.

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