New Delhi: Monsoon fury continued to strike parts of southern states on Saturday, with Andhra Pradesh bearing maximum impact witnessing loss of life and persons going missing in rain-related incidents.
In Andhra Pradesh, 24 people were killed and 17 others were reported missing in rain-related incidents since Friday, an official bulletin informed.
A member of the State Disaster Response Force was among the deceased.
As per news agency PTI, more than 30 people were washed away from three villages along the Cheyyeru river course, where water from the Annamayya medium irrigation project gushed in.
With many areas inundated, the situation in Tirupati town still remained grim. The scene on the holy Tirumala Hills was relatively better, though pouring rain did cause inconvenience to pilgrims.
In Kadiri town in the Anantapuramu district, an under-construction building collapsed due to incessant rain and fell on an adjoining one, killing at least five persons, including two children.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy conducted an aerial survey in Kadapa, Anantapuramu, and Chittoor districts to assess the damage.
SPS Nellore district has witnessed record inundation in the Pennar river which left many villages marooned on Saturday.
Thousands of people have been shifted to relief camps in the district from the flood-hit areas, PTI reported official sources as saying. Teams of NDRF and SDRF have also been deployed in the districts for rescue and relief operations.
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Situation In Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry
Rains receded in Kerala’s Sabarimala, where the Pathanamthitta district administration removed an earlier prohibition on pilgrimage to the holy shrine imposed due to the downpour. Meanwhile, parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry continued to bear the brunt of inundation and sharp showers.
In Tamil Nadu, parts of Villupuram and Cuddalore districts witnessed flooding after the Thenpennai river was in spate.
Around 15,000 people from the two districts were lodged in relief camps while 18,500 hectares of farmlands were submerged in Villupuram due to the overflowing Thenpennai river, PTI reported.
“In the last 24 hours, three people have been killed in Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai districts,” Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramchandran informed.
368 heads of cattle had also perished, he added.
He informed that while 65,000 cusecs of water were being released from Mettur Dam, which caters to the Cauvery delta districts, the quantum at Poondi, one of the reservoirs meeting Chennai’s drinking water needs, was 29,684 cusecs.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel evacuated stranded people in water-logged areas in Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Ranipet districts using boats.
Over 1,900 such affected persons in the three districts, besides Kancheepuram, Kallakurichi, Chengalpet and Vellore have been rescued in the past two days, PTI reported officials as saying.
With the Kosasthalai river in Tiruvallur overflowing and leading to flooding in Manali near Chennai, CM MK Stalin visited the affected areas and directed officials concerned to expedite relief work.
In Kerala, heavy rains had lashed several parts of Pathanamthitta district, posing a threat to Sabarimala pilgrimage last night. However, devotees were permitted to trek the holy hills again in batches on Saturday.
Two shutters of the Pamba dam were raised by the authorities after its water level rose.
Temple authorities said normalcy returned to Sabarimala as on Saturday no major rains were reported, especially in the areas of the hill temple.
District Collector Divya S Iyer granted permission to allow the devotees stranded in Nilackal, following last night’s prohibition order, to trek to Sabarimala hills and offer prayers at the shrine in a phased manner ensuring their safety.
Authorities urged those living on the river banks, Sabarimala devotees, and the general public to take necessary precautions in the wake of the opening of two shutters of the Pamba dam.
The Puducherry union territory was also lashed by heavy rains after a respite on Friday.
Chief Minister N Rangasamy said the government was seeking interim relief from the Union government but did not elaborate on the quantum of relief.
The UT had registered around 16 cm rainfall on Saturday, official sources said, as reported by PTI.
(With Agency Inputs)