Heavy rain batters Kurnool, East Godavari districts

Rajahmundry/Kurnool/Guntur: Normal life in East Godavari, Kurnool continue to remain paralysed with heavy torrential rains lashing them on the second day on Friday.

Several low-lying areas in East Godavari were inundated. Drainage water was found overflowing the roads at several places.

Crops in several thousands of acres were submerged. Flood fury in Akhanda Godavari is intensifying. Gates of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowlaiswaram were lifted up to 1.2 metres to let out flood water downstream. Flood water level in the river Godavari may increase but may not cross the danger mark.

Atmakur division worst-affected
In Kurnool district, Atmakur division was worst-affected. As many as 32 villages in the division were cut off from the rest of the world. The APSRTC has cancelled bus services to these villages. Maddivagu, Edduleru and Bhavanasi rivers are in full flood.

Kothapalli, Velugodu, Pamulapadu Atamkur received 5 cm of rain. Crops in 20,000 acres were submerged in the district.

Guntur district reels under rain
Nadendla mandal received the highest rainfall on Friday recording 125.2 mm, while the lowest was in Duggirala and Kollur (1.4 mm), of the total of 159.20 mm in the district.

The next highest rainfall was in Atchampet (69.6 mm). The average rainfall in several mandals was 5.2 to 6 mm and in 44 mandals 2.5 mm.

There was no rain in at least ten mandals. The district average rain was put at 27.9 mm, according to the collector’s office.