AP, TS get heavy rains

• Downpour cuts off several villages in south coastal and Rayalaseema districts
• Two women washed away in a stream in Guntur district
• One struck dead by lightning in Kurnool district

Hyderabad: Normal life was thrown out of gear at several places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Sunday with incessant rains lashing the state under the influence of north-east monsoon. The monsoon has become vigorous in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and south interior Karnataka and Kerala. Heavy rainfall was recorded in Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra and in AP and several parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

North-East monsoon set on the two Telugu-speaking States causing heavy rain throughout the two states and damage to paddy crop and plantation like guava. Several streams and rivulets are overflowing in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema areas.

Two women were washed away in Guntur district when they were crossing swollen stream stream in Macherla. The body of one woman was retrieved while search is still on for the other woman. The two women have been identified as Anasuya and Radha of Macherla area. One person died when he was struck by lightning at Kondanayikapalle village in Kurnool district.

Water level at Pulichintala multi-irrigation project has reached 44.35 metres. Irrigation authorities have lifted seven gates and are releasing 71,000 cusecs of water downstream and the flood waters reach Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada by Monday. Threat of floods to villages under the project is looming large.

Reli rivulet between Macharla and Rentichintla has swollen following heavy rains cutting off several villages. Water levels in two rivulets ---Dandi vagu and Eddu vagu --- have reached danger level.

Rivulets in Prakasam district, too, are overflowing. Water level in Tungabhadra is rising. Vedavati and Handi rivers are in floods in Kurnool district. Kadapa district, too, experienced torrential rains. Several parts of the district recorded rainfall up to 80 mm.

Several irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh are filled to the brim. Rivulets and streams are overflowing in several areas, leading to some villages being marooned.

Widespread rains lashed Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Kurnool and YSR Kadapa districts. Macherla, Velturti.

In Guntur district, Macherla, Madugula and Rentachintala areas in the district recorded heavy rainfall throughout the night resulting in overflowing of streams.

Golivagu and other streams between Macherla, Pidugurala and Sattenapalle are also overflowing resulting in submersion of crops in the area. Guntur city, however, remained rain-free. The areas of Palnadu including Macherla recorded heavy rainfall resulting in water entering the huts in low-lying areas in Macherla municipal wards 15 and 16. Chandravanka stream in the area is overflowing disrupting the traffic between various villages.

Following lifting of 7 of crest gates and releasing of 79,000 cusecs of water from Pulichintala project, villages including Gollapeta, Chityala and Bodnam in Pulichintala project areas were inundated and people were moved to safer places. Pulichintala project has now 10.30 tmc of water while its storage capacity is 11 tmc. One person was struck dead by lightning at Kondanayikapalle village in Kurnool district on Sunday, following heavy rain. As many as 130 sheep perished in the incident.