Hyderabad, November 06: Over the past 24 hours, heavy rains claimed the lives of 10 persons across the state taking the toll to 35. East and West Godavari districts were the worst affected due to torrential rains that have been lashing the state for the past five days. Chief minister K Rosaiah, who conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas today, directed the officials to take all measures to minimise the loss of life including that of cattle.
Rain occurred at many places in south Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema apart from a few places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the well-marked low pressure area over south Andaman sea has moved westwards and concentrated into depression over southeast Bay of Bengal about 1,300 km east-southeast of Chennai today. The Met officials predicted that it is likely to intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm and move west-northwesterly direction and cross south Andhra and Tamil Nadu coast between Ongole and Chennai on November 7. Northeast monsoon has been active over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.
Nearly 1,082 villages in 240 mandals including two towns were affected due to the downpour inundating about 443 villages. The officials deployed 36 medical teams and engaged 25 boats for rescue and relief operations. In all, 33,150 persons were evacuated from low-lying areas. Roads were damaged to an extent of 1,737 km at 523 places and works have already been initiated for restoration. Crops were damaged in an area of 2.83 lakh hectares in addition to horticulture crop in 3,145 hectares. About 1,608 tanks got breached and repair works are in full swing.
Rosaiah directed the officials to send a preliminary report on the flood havoc in the state to the Centre and request for release of advance assistance from National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). He urged the people not to panic about the cyclonic depression as its intensity has been reduced by this evening and may not cause widespread damage. The officials were asked to rush medical teams to prevent spreading of epidemics in flood-affected areas apart from arranging supply of free ration, food packets and safe drinking water for the flood victims.
–Agencies