Visakhapatnam: Heavy rain keeps officials on alert

Visakhapatnam: The active South West monsoon over coastal Andhra Pradesh brought very heavy rains at isolated places. Heavy rains occurred at a few places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram districts. Vizag city also witnessed incessant rain throughout the day.

The low-pressure area over central parts of Odisha and adjoining parts continued to persist on Monday with heavy rains forecast for  coastal Andhra Pradesh including Ralayaseema. The trough on sea level chart now runs up to south Tamil Nadu across coastal AP and Rayalaseema.

District collectors of coastal places directed all tahsildars, RDOs and line departments to be on alert following a warning from the IMD that heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely at places in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Srika-kulam and Vizianaga-ram over next 24 hours.

The government asked the officials to stay at their headquarters and leave of all officials remains cancelled till the low pressure weakened.

Vizianagaram district faced the brunt of the low pressure receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall. All rivers, rivulets and streams were overflowing affecting normal life in rural areas. In urban areas, low lying areas were inundated with storm water. The weather office has not sounded any warning but has said that the rains would continue till September 1.

Over the last 24 hours, Kurupam ( Vizianagaram) received 16 cm rain, Palasa (Srikakulam) 12 cm, Komarada 9 cm, Garugubilli (both Vizianagaram) 9 cm, Paderu (Vishakhapatnam) 9 cm, Seethanagaram (Vizianagaram) 8 cm, Pathapatnam (Srikakulam) 8 cm, Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram) 8 cm, Tekkali (Srikakulam) 8 cm, Vepada (Vizianagaram) 7 cm, Jiyyammavalasa (Vizianagaram) 7 cm and Visakhapatnam received 3 cm. East and West Godavari and Krishna received 2 cm each and Rayalseema region 1 cm.