GUNTUR: Heavy rain lashed several parts of Guntur district Thursday. Guntur, Narasaraopet, Chilukaluripeta, Prathipadu and Amaravati were the worst affected with streams and drains overflowing and inundating low-lying areas.
While rail and road traffic network was damaged at various places due to heavy rains, one woman was washed away in an overflowing stream. Lightning caused damage to some property.
The railway track between Nallapadu and Perecherla got damaged due to heavy rain. About 10 m of the track was damaged, forcing the authorities to delay the Vijayawada-Hubli passenger. But railway staff restored the track and train services were resumed.
Roads were badly hit at various places due to overflowing streams. Traffic was disrupted between Guntur-Hyderabad highway, Chilakaluripeta-Kotappakonda, Narasaraopet-Chilukaluripeta and Chilakaluripeta-Kotappakonda, among other routes. Kondaveeti Vagu and Ogeru Vagu have overflowed inundating villages and damaging roads.
A woman was washed away in Kondaveetivagu stream at Medikonduru in Tadikonda while trying to cross the stream. A tobacco godown of ITC has been burnt down due to a lightning strike in Chinakondrupadu village in Pattipadu mandal. The SC colony has been inundated in Patthipadu. Lightning also struck Ankamma temple at Pedakurapadu. Even Guntur Collectorate witnessed the wrath of heavy rain and thunders as trees fell down causing damage to the parked vehicles and generator.
Guntur district joint collector Vivek Yadav said that orders have been passed to officials to stop traffic on roads where streams are overflowing and asked the officials to be on alert and in contact with the Collectorate. He also said that three rescue and rehabilitation camps have been set up in Prathipadu to provide relief measures.
While about 2 cm of highest rainfall was witnessed in Medikonda, more than 25 mandals have received a rainfall exceeding the average rainfall in the region.