Visakhapatnam:Heavy to very heavy rains lashed several coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh on Friday night and Saturday and more rains are forecast as the depression in the West Central Bay of Bengal is likely to cross the coast in the early hours of Sunday. The government declared a holiday for schools in rain-affected areas on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall on Sunday (Sept 1) at isolated places in Kurnool, NTR, Palnadu and Nandyal districts and heavy rains in parts of ASR, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Kakinada, Guntur, Prakasam, YSR Kadapa, Anantapur and Konaseema districts. The IMD also issued red warning at many places in the state.
The well-marked low-pressure area over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a depression on Saturday. It is likely to move further west-northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur close to Kalingapatnam. Under the influence of the system, rainfall activity will continue on Sunday.
Director of IMD-Amaravati, S. Stella said heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy rains lashed parts of Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu, NTR, West Godavari, East Godavari, Eluru and Konaseema districts on Saturday. Parts of a few other districts also experienced heavy rains on Saturday, she added.
As per the IMD, Masulipatnam in Krishna district and Vijayawada in NTR district recorded the highest rainfall of 18 cm each between August 30 (Friday 8.30 am) and August 31 (Saturday 8.30 am), followed by 17 cm rainfall in Gudivada (Krishna), 15 cm in Kaikaluru (Eluru), 14 cm in Narsapuram (West Godavari), 13 cm in Amaravati (Guntur), 12 cm in Vijayawada Airport (NTR), 11 cm each in Mangalagiri (Guntur), Nandigama (NTR), Bheemavaram (West Godavari), 9 cm rainfall each in Palakoderu (West Godavari), Tenali (Guntur), Tiruvuru (NTR), Guntur and Proddatur ( YSR Kadapa), 8 cm each in Eluru, Nuzvid (Eluru), Athampet (Palnadu), 7 cm each in Tadepalligudem (West Godavari), Repalle (Bapatla), Kunavaram (ASR), Karamchedu (Bapatla), Chapad and Jammalamadugu (YSR district) during the period.
Remaining parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and a few parts of Rayalaseema region recorded rainfall between 2 cm and 6 cm.
