AP to Have Rains for Two More Days

Vijayawada: The IMD has warned of heavy rainfall in AP for two more days from July 27 to 28.

However, on Thursday, heavy to very heavy or extremely heavy rainfall is likely in six districts - Eluru, West Godavari, Krishna, NTR, Guntur and Palnadu.

The weather office issued a red alert for these districts and necessary action would be taken by the state government to ensure safety to the people.

IMD also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in three districts - Alluri Sitarama Raju, Bapatla and Prakasam – and issued an alert that officials be prepared to swing into action based on need.

For Friday, IMD warned of heavy rainfall in Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru and part of West Godavari districts while the remaining parts of the state would witness thunderstorms and strong winds gusting up to 30 to 40 kmph.

The IMD said a well-marked low pressure area over west central and adjoining north west Bay of Bengal of the north Andhra Pradesh - south Odisha coasts with the associated cyclonic circulation up to 7.6 km above mean sea level persists. It is likely to move slowly north westwards across north AP-south Odisha coasts.

“This would cause very heavy to heavy rainfall in the next two days in the places specified. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea as squally weather winds of speed 45-55 mph gusting up to 65 kmph are likely over west central and adjoining north west Bay of Bengal.”

Under the influence of rainfall, from 8.30 am to 8 pm on Wednesday, Laveru mandal in Srikakulam district received a cumulative rainfall of 218.25 mm followed by Poospatirega mandal in Vizianagaram district at 141.25 mm, Etcherla-127 mm, Amadalavalasa-124.25 mm, Narasannapeta-117 mm, Seethammadhara-111.25 mm  etc.

As several parts of districts Alluri Sitarama Raju, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Konaseema, Krishna, Guntur, NTR and Palnadu received heavy to very heavy or extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday, normal life has been affected and several low-lying areas were inundated.

In Vijayawada, a rock fall from Indrakeeladri hill accommodating the popular Durga temple prompted the temple authorities to close the darshan of the deity to the devotees, to ensure safety for them on the ghat road. The devotees are being allowed on steps and also via the lift to visit the temple and take darshan.

The state government issued directions to the collectors from all the affected districts to set up control rooms at district and divisional level to help the people contact them for any help in view of the rainfall and floods.

Visakhapatnam collector Mallikarjuna said, “All precautionary steps have been taken to avoid any trouble to the people and to ensure them safety.”

Meanwhile, the water level in Godavari river was rising and it reached 10.80ft with a discharge of 8.53 lakh cusecs of water downstream into the sea from Sir Aurthu Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram at 10pm.

In Krishna river, the authorities ‘surplused’ 80,000 cusecs of water downstream from Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada at 6pm.

Krishna collector Raja Babu issued directions to officials to ensure safety to the people in the low lying areas along Krishna river as nearly 1.20 lakh cusecs of water was expected to be discharged.