Heavy rain cripples life in Vizag region, inundates low-lying areas

Visakhapatnam: Heavy to very heavy rains across North Andhra Pradesh including Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts disrupted normal life on Wednesday. Low-lying areas were inundated, and traffic was affected.

Heavy rains lashed coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh as low pressure persists over coastal Andhra Pradesh. Yelamanchili mandal in Vizag district recorded the highest rainfall of 126 mm (9 pm on Wednesday).

The effects of the heavy rainfall were visible at the Steel plant area of Gajuwaka, where people were people were seen wading through knee-deep water in some areas.

An old abandoned building at Changalaraopeta near China Waltair area collapsed. However, two bikes were crushed under the debris.

The heavy rains threw normal life out of gear and people were confined to their houses. The well-marked low-pressure area lies over the west-central Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast.

It is very likely to move towards the north northwest towards the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh.

According to the IMD predictions, rains will continue to lash the coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh for the next two days. The persisting low-pressure area will initially move along the coast and eventually move inland over north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Rains are expected to continue until October 24. It will slightly reduce on October 25 when the low-pressure area will move eastwards.

Meanwhile, the well-marked low-pressure area lies over the east-central Arabian Sea and its neighbourhood.

It is very likely to become into a depression during next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm in the subsequent 48 hours.

The rainfall triggered by the low pressures has put the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts under surplus rainfall received areas.

Vizag recorded 12 per cent excess rainfall in the monsoon season so far while Vizianagaram and Srikakulam witnesses 6 per cent and 2 per cent more rainfall than normal.

The management of some private schools in Vizag announced a holiday on Thursday due to the heavy rains over the last two days.

Vizag district collector V. Vinay Chanda said that they have set up a control room at the collectorate in Vizag city to monitor the situation in the district. The teams of various departments have been put on alert. They are ready for rescue and relief operations in case of an emergency.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has appealed to the people to stay indoors during the rains. A team has been formed to identify old buildings and evacuate the people from these establishments.