Life paralyzed in several districts:
Heavy rains triggered by a cyclone have wreaked havoc across several districts of Andhra Pradesh, bringing life to a standstill in parts of Rayalaseema and coastal regions. Districts such as Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, East Godavari, and Visakhapatnam are the worst affected, with flooding, high tides, and strong winds creating chaos. In Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, sea waves have surged alarmingly, submerging coastal areas and damaging property.
Visakhapatnam’s RK Beach witnessed waves crashing into nearby shops, and a petal shed in Kongapalem of Pedagantyada mandal collapsed due to the rain, leaving one person injured. The coastal area of Uppada in Kothapalli mandal, Kakinada, is also facing turbulent seas, with massive waves uprooting trees, electric poles, and damaging houses. In Antarvedi, waves have breached the coast, washing away homes and roads in Pallipalem. Konaseema district’s Allavaram mandal saw significant wave activity, with sea water inundating the ONC plant and flooding aqua ponds.
The cyclone made landfall at Tada in Tirupati district, according to the Meteorological Department, crossing the coast at a speed of 22 km/h over a six-hour period before weakening into a low-pressure system. As a result, heavy rainfall continues to drench coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema districts, and parts of North Tamil Nadu.
Flooding hits reservoirs, disrupts life
Flooding has been reported in several reservoirs, with the Chitravati River flowing dangerously near Veldurthi in CK Palli mandal, Srisatyasai district, cutting off traffic to villages such as Ganginepalli thandas, Erronipalli, Brahmanapalli, and Chinnappareddypalli. In YSR district, the Gandikota and Mylavaram reservoirs are witnessing rising water levels, while the Chitravati balancing reservoir has reached its full capacity. The Paidipalem, Vamikonda, and Sarvaraya Sagar reservoirs are also brimming with floodwater.
In Anantapur district, the heavy rains have soaked crops, causing significant damage to maize and groundnut fields. Many farmers are reporting losses due to waterlogging, with paddy fields being particularly hard-hit by the downpour.