Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Sep 4 (IANS) Heavy rains continued to batter Andhra Pradesh and throwing road and rail traffic out of gear, officials said.

Several rivulets, tanks and other water bodies were overflowing in 10 districts of Telangana and coastal Andhra regions following showers over the last two days due to low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. There were reports that five people had been killed.

As many as 100 villages were cut off in Khammam district where overflowing rivulets inundated several areas and brought road transport to a halt. Parts of Nizamabad town were also flooded.

Low-lying areas in Warangal, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Krishna and East Godavari districts were inundated as well.

Eight trains between Secunderabad and Vijayawada were cancelled and 27 trains diverted Monday as part of the railway tracks near Dornakal in Warangal district were flooded.

Railway officials said train services between Kazipet and Vijayawada were restored Tuesday morning.

Six fishermen, who had gone fishing in the Bay of Bengal Monday, are missing.

Authorities, who planned to launch search operations with a helicopter, had to drop the plans due to bad weather.

The incessant rain has also hit life in Hyderabad. The downpour inundated and damaged several roads, affecting the movement of vehicles. The state capital received heavy rains late Monday, turning key thoroughfares into cesspool.

Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre has forecast more rains over the next two days in several parts of coastal Andhra and Telangana and at a few places in Rayalaseema. The authorities have warned fishermen against venturing into the sea.

The Prakasam barrage across Krishna river in Krishna district has received huge inflows due to rains in upstream areas. This is expected to provide relief to farmers in the Krishna delta spread over four districts and considered the state’s rice bowl.

The Krishna delta farmers and political parties in coastal region were agitating as water was not being released from the upstream Srisailam dam and Nagarjuna Sagar project in Rayalaseema and Telangana regions. The low levels in the dams had triggered a row amongst the three regions.