Rain kills 9 in Andhra; Hyderabad on edge, Mumbai reels too

Hyderabad: After few days of relative lull, heavy rain lashed some parts of the country claiming nine lives in Andhra Pradesh, throwing life out of gear in some Telangana cities and also troubling Mumbaikars. Andhra Pradesh reported four fresh rain-related deaths today which took the toll to nine - six in Guntur district, three in Visakhapatnam. The K L Rao Sagar reservoir in the state is almost filled due to copious showers in Guntur and the upper catchment areas of the Krishna river. While its full level capacity is 45.77 tmc ft, it is now holding 30 tmc ft of water. As much as 1.51 lakh cusecs of flood water is being discharged from K L Rao Sagar reservoir which is reaching Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on Krishna. The Barrage is overflowing as close to 2 lakh cusecs of water flowing in. This is the first time in over five years that the Barrage has witnessed such massive inflow. Women slip in water on a flooded street amidst heavy rains in Hyderabad on September 22, 2016.
Rains that have caused heavy flooding around Hyderabad are expected to continue in the coming days, Indian meteorological officials said. / AFP PHOTO / NOAH SEELAM Train services between Guntur and Secunderabad remained suspended for the second consecutive day as over two km tracks near Sattenapalli was washed away due to overflowing rivulets. Meanwhile, the national capital had a sultry day today with mercury settling two notches above normal- maximum 36 and and minimum 27 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity oscillated between 73 and 91 per cent. Incessant rains continued to batter Hyderabad for the third day today, prompting the Telangana government to ask IT companies there to allow their employees work from home as it sought Army's help in rescue operation in some areas. The state government declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area today and tomorrow. "They (Army) have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them," an official said. Some localities in the low-lying areas of Miyapur, Bachupalli and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days. GHMC has been supplying food packets to the people in rain-affected areas. Mumbaikars this morning woke up to heavy showers as intermittent rains continued to lash the city and its outskirts for sixth day even as the weatherman predicted more heavy downpour in the metropolis. According to disaster management control room of the civic body, no injury or casualty has been reported so far. The disaster management cell said they have received several complaints of potholes on roads across the city which have been causing inconvenience to the motorists. "Heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at one or two places in the next 24 hours," IMD, Mumbai Director V K Rajiv told PTI.