The incessant rains in the four districts of Andhra Pradesh – Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Anantapur – have created havoc over the state machinery and people alike. With over 40 people reported to have been dead due to rains, the damages of property is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Visakhapatnam has predicted that heavy rains will lash Rayalaseema region from November 26 to December 2. So it looks like there is no respite from the water for now!
The rain water continuing to inundate all the low-lying colonies of Tirupati, there is yet another threat staring at the people in these colonies as a breach in Rayalacheruvu lake is likely to further flood the low-lying areas. The water level in the lake is already double its capacity and will soon break the lake and water will flow into colonies.
All the main rail and road routes including the National Highway between Chennai and Kolkata have been cut off. At least 17 Express trains were cancelled on the Chennai-Vijayawada grand trunk route as the flood overflowed on the railway track at Padugupadu. Three other trains were partially cancelled or diverted.
With roads flooded with water, traffic on the NH-16 between Nellore and Vijayawada has been suspended, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for kilometers on either side. Hundreds of passengers were stuck in the Nellore RTC bus station as bus services were disrupted. In Kadapa district, a bridge on the river Papagni collapsed at Kamalapuram, cutting off road communication between Kadapa and Anantapur districts. Floodwater gushing out from the Veligallu reservoir led to the bridge collapse, officials said.
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Meanwhile IMD officials have warned that the state may witness two or three depressions till December and Rayalaseema region may receive rainfall till January. According to experts, the sea surface temperatures are favourable for formation of low pressures during the coming weeks. Anantapur district received record rainfall of 540.6 millimetres, while Chittoor district received 113 millimetres of rainfall. The IMD said it was too early to predict whether the system will turn into a cyclone. Usually northeast monsoon brings rain from Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh, it might spill over to January depending on weather conditions.
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