Cyclone Vardah: AP escapes storm impact but heavy showers in Chittoor, Nellore

Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Tirupati: Cyclone Vardah, that made its landfall at Chennai, largely spared AP but heavy rain pounded Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur, Prakasam and Kadapa districts on Monday.

Squally winds uprooted trees and electricity poles in parts of these districts and toppled several motor vehicles, including an oil tanker near Sullurpeta.

Train and flight services were hit and normal life was thrown out of gear The Railways cancelled or diverted various trains on Monday. Air services were suspended at Tirupati airport. The heavy rain inundated several low-lying areas of Tirupati and there was water-logging at the Tirumala temple.

AP to see more heavy rain today
Cyclone Vardah, that made landfall at Chennai, spared Andhra Pradesh to a large extent but heavy rains pounded Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur, Prakasam and Kadapa districts on Monday.

Officials had to use pumps to clear water at the Lord Venkateswara temple. A storm surge was reported along the coast of Nellore district till evening. Damages to standing crops, thatched huts and rooftops were also reported in some parts of coastal AP and Rayalaseema districts.

About 11,490 people were evacuated from the low-lying areas of 11 mandals of Nellore district on Monday to the relief camps. Nellore SP, Vishal Gunni had also introduced the HAM radio for the first time to tide over the rough situation.

The average rainfall in Nellore district from 8.30 am on Sunday to 5 pm on Monday was about 3.9 cm and the highest rainfall of 9.7 cm was recorded at Vakadu, followed by 93.7 mm in Sullurpeta, 87.8 mm in Tada and 87.5 mm in Doravarisathram. The rain was likely to continue.