24 killed, 17 missing in flash floods in Andhra Pradesh

The heavy rains and flash floods under the influence of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal have claimed 24 lives, 17 people are still missing and crops in over 23,000 hectares damaged, officials said on Saturday. The government of Andhra Pradesh in a release here on Saturday said that so far 24 people had been killed in the heavy rains and floods and 17 people were still missing.

The rains and floods badly affected 172 mandals in 4 districts Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa, and Anantapur. The rains and floods damaged paddy crops in 23,345 hectares, horticulture crops in 19,644 hectares. The government announced Rs 7 crore as immediate assistance to the four affected districts. The government announced Rs 2,000 financial assistance to those who were taking shelter in the relief camps.

The Indian Coast Guard Station Krishnapatnam deployed two flood relief teams in Nellore on Friday for augmenting flood relief operations and to render assistance to the stranded personnel due to flood in Kollagatala Village. The team have been working relentlessly in the affected Coastal Districts to rescue people in distress and relocate them to safe locations, an official release said here.

It is reported that nearly 500 people are stranded in the area affected by continuous heavy rains in the last few days. With the unprecedented rains and resultant heavy flow, several areas have been impacted by floods. Civil Aid operation is being undertaken by Indian Coast Guard Team in coordination with NDRF and SDRF team, Fire fighting team and local administrations, the release added.