A red alert has been issued for Coastal Andhra as very heavy rains hit the region without stopping, causing serious worry for everyone’s safety. Since early today, the constant rain has filled up streets and homes in many areas, making it hard to move around. Power is out in several places, leaving people without lights. Weather officials say more strong rain is coming for the next 24 hours, which means there is a high chance of sudden floods and landslips. Local leaders are telling people to be very careful, stay inside. get ready for worse weather as this strong rain system stays over the coast, putting people’s lives and things in big danger.
Very Heavy Rains Hit Coastal Areas
Coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh have been hit by very heavy rains in the past few days. The rain has caused widespread problems across many districts. Places like NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Krishna, Eluru, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Bapatla have seen a lot of rain. Even West and East Godavari districts are seeing heavy rainfall.
Some areas recorded extremely high amounts of rain. Mangalagiri in Guntur district saw 19 centimeters of rain, which is 190 millimeters. Tenali, also in Guntur, had 18 centimeters. Karamchedu in Bapatla district recorded 15 centimeters. Amaravati received 14 centimeters, while Avanigadda in Krishna district got 13 centimeters. Ibrahimpatnam in NTR district recorded 142. 8 millimeters of rain between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, which is the highest for the season in the state.
This heavy downpour has led to many issues on the ground. Water has filled up low-lying areas. roads are under water, making it hard for people to move around. Farmers are also worried as their paddy fields in districts like Guntur, Palnadu, Krishna. NTR have been flooded.
Government Issues High Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has put out a high warning for South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. This is because more heavy to very heavy. even extremely heavy, rain is expected. A similar warning has also been given for West and East Godavari districts. For North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, an orange warning has been issued, which means people should be prepared.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red colour warning for extremely heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh today.
This situation is due to a low-pressure area that formed over the west-central part and nearby northwest part of the Bay of Bengal. This weather system is located off the coasts of North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha. Experts say this low-pressure area is likely to become stronger in the next 24 hours and move across North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha. This will bring more intense rain to the region.
The IMD has predicted that South Coastal Andhra Pradesh might get heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Other areas like North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam. Rayalaseema are likely to see heavy rain, thunderstorms. strong winds.
Life Comes to a Standstill
The ongoing heavy rain has severely affected daily life across coastal Andhra Pradesh. Roads in many areas are completely covered in water, stopping vehicles and leaving many villages cut off. People are finding it hard to travel. commuters are stranded in many places.
In Guntur, floodwaters entered boys’ hostels at Acharya Nagarjuna University, reaching the ground floors and forcing students to use ladders to get to upper rooms. These students were later moved to safer places. They also reported that their personal belongings were damaged.
Train services have also faced major problems. Tracks between Piduguralla–Bellamkonda, Tenali–Guntur. Vejendla–Manipuram were flooded. This caused many trains to be cancelled or delayed. others had to run at a very slow speed of 30 kilometers per hour in certain parts to ensure safety.
The downpour has also caused rivers to swell. Rivers like Kundu and Penna are flowing with more water due to the heavy inflow. The water level in Prakasam Barrage is rising and is expected to reach the first warning level soon. In the NTR district, the inflow from Pulichintala has gone up significantly, from 2 lakh cusecs to over 3 lakh cusecs, with a chance it could go even higher.
Sadly, the severe weather has also led to tragic events. Two deaths have been reported in separate incidents in Vijayawada due to rain-related causes. In one case, a person died after falling on a flooded road. in another, a youth died after falling into an open sewer.
Official Steps to Help People
In response to the serious situation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has told officials to be fully prepared. He held a meeting with Home and Revenue Ministers, the Chief Secretary. other officials to look at the damage caused by the rain.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials to be on high alert in the wake of heavy rains across the state and take all precautionary measures to avert loss of life and property.
The Chief Minister has given clear instructions for action. These include taking steps to quickly drain water from roads and low-lying areas in cities. He also ordered that water from upstream areas be sent to fill projects like Somasila and Kandaleru. Mr. Naidu stressed the importance of managing water well so that floodwater is not wasted and is used properly before it goes into the sea. He also told officials to remove hyacinth plants from canals to help floodwaters flow freely.
Minister for Revenue, Registration. Stamps, Anagani Satya Prasad, has also urged revenue officials to remain watchful. He asked them to keep checking flood-affected areas and said that government staff are ready to move people to relief centers if needed. To help citizens, a control room has been set up at the Vijayawada Collectorate. the emergency helpline number 9154970545 has been made active for people to call for help.
The Home Minister, Anitha, has also directed district Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to find areas that are likely to be affected by the disaster. She told them to warn villagers and move them to safer places if necessary. She also asked officers to identify dangerous spots, put up warning signs, stay in the affected villages. watch the situation all day and night.
Rescue Teams are Ready
To help with rescue and relief operations, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been placed on standby. These teams are ready to move into action as needed. In fact, 26 NDRF teams are being sent for flood relief and rescue work in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Twelve of these teams are already in the two states. 14 more are being dispatched. Eight of the new teams are being brought in by air from different parts of the country.
Twenty-six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed for flood relief and rescue operations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, officials said Monday. While 12 teams are already deployed in the two neighbouring states, 14 more are being dispatched, they said.
These NDRF teams are well-equipped for flood rescue. They carry inflatable boats, tools for cutting poles and trees. basic medical aid tools. Their presence is crucial for helping people trapped by floods and providing immediate assistance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He has given his assurance that the central government will provide all possible help to deal with the problems caused by the heavy rains and floods in the states.
Advice for Public Safety
With the ongoing severe weather, crucial safety advice has been given to the public. Fishermen have been strongly warned not to go into the sea for the next five days, as conditions are dangerous.
People living in low-lying areas have been asked to be very careful and alert to the rising water levels. Those who live on hill slopes also need to be careful because there is a chance of rockslides due to the wet ground.
Authorities are urging everyone to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid unnecessary travel. This helps keep people safe from the risks of waterlogged roads and other dangers. It is also advised that people stay updated with official weather reports and advisories from government agencies. Cooperation with disaster management teams is also very essential to ensure everyone’s safety during this period.
Outlook for Coming Days
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the region will continue to experience wet weather. The forecast shows that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to affect Andhra Pradesh until August 19. While the intensity may change, rain activity is expected to continue across coastal and inland districts.
For August 14, South Coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected to get heavy to very heavy rainfall. North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, along with Yanam and Rayalaseema, will likely see heavy rain, thunderstorms. strong winds. Strong surface winds, moving at speeds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, are also expected over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam. South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. In Rayalaseema, winds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour are expected.
From August 16 to 17, heavy rain is still expected over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, with thunderstorms and strong winds in other areas. Even from August 18 to 19, heavy rain is predicted for North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, though the thunderstorm activity might be less. The weather department is closely watching the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, which is affecting the weather.
