Nellore, November 10: The State Government Monday directed the district collectors to be on constant vigil as both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka continue to receive heavy rainfall. Officials have been asked to take all precautionary measures to prevent further damage in case of heavy rains.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah ordered plugging of breaches to minor irrigation tanks and canals immediately to prevent further flood damage to crops. He also wanted repairs to damaged roads and culverts to restore normalcy in areas affected by heavy downpour in the last four days.
The meteorological department has forecast that the south coastal and a few districts in Rayalaseema will receive heavy to very heavy rains in the next two days. There are much possibilities to register over 7 cm rain at many places in south coastal districts during the same period.
Yesterday’s well-marked low pressure over the Lakshadweep and its neighbourhood persists and may turn into a depression in the next 24 hours.
A trough from this system extending up to the Arabian Sea off Maharastra coast along and off Konkan and Goa coasts also persists.
The north-east monsoon has been vigorous over the south coastal and Rayalaseema areas as there are active climatic conditions prevailing.
Under its influence, according to the Cyclone Warning Centre at Visakhapatnam, rain or thundershowers are likely at many places in south coastal and at a few places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours. Isolated heavy rains are also likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours.
The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in centimeters ending at 8.30 am Monday are as follows: Udayagiri 14, Kavali 12, Nellore, Vinjamuru 11, Guduru 9, Venkatagiri Town, Rapuru, Atmakuru 7 each and Tada and Sullurupet 5 each. In Rayalaseema also very heavy falls have been recorded. Srikalahasti 17, Rajampet 9, Rajachoti 7, Putturu 6, Satyavedu 6, Pulivendula, Kadapa, Kadiri and Badwel 5 cm each.
The heavy rains lashing Nellore district for the past one week caused much damage to roads, tanks, houses and standing crops.
The total loss due to the torrential rains has been put at Rs 46.18 crore. The loss may go up as the rains are pouring unabated in many parts of the district and water at many causeways is overflowing. District Revenue Officer Jayaramaiah said that a detailed report had been sent to the government showing the damages to roads, tanks and crops, due to rains and also seeking additional allotment of rice and funds for restoration of roads and tanks.
No human loss has been reported so far, though the rains disrupted normal life in 16 mandals which bore the brunt of the heavy rains in the district.
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy asked officials to be vigilant to tackle any eventuality. He inspected breached tanks and damaged roads in the Kavali area Monday.
–Agencies