Heavy rains pound Guntur, four feared dead

Heavy rains have been pouring down continuing for the third day on Thursday all over Andhra Pradesh resulting in overflowing lakes in Guntur district. Several villages have been affected with colonies in Guntur and Sattenapally inundated with water.

Four persons are feared drowned in Kuppagangivagu between Narasaraopet and Chilakaluripet in Guntur. The four people were washed away in the heavy currents while trying to cross the lake. Communications have been disrupted in the district amidst 18cm of rain recorded in Sattenapally. Basavamma Vagu, Eddu Vagu streams are are overflowing on Guntur-Hyderabad highway.

The heavy overnight rain led to a flash flood on Thursday due to which thousands of people were stranded in several parts of the district. A low-level bridge was washed away and ropes are being used to rescue people from waist-deep water. With the colonies being submerged, around 7,000 people were evacuated to safety.

While the traffic has come to a stop on the Addanki - Narketpally highway, trains have also been halted near Secunderabad as the railway tracks are reportedly damaged.