As the flood waters in Vijayawada reached a critical level, dozens of residents, including elderly people and young children, were left stranded for nearly 24 hours as water levels surged to nearly 10 feet in Ambapuram. (Photo | Prasant Madugula, EPS)
Commuters faced severe difficulties, with buses stuck in knee-deep water.
Schools were shut and several businesses were affected. According to IMD, Vijayawada city received 18 cm of rain till 8.30 am on Saturday.
Taking stock of the situation Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to be cautious and take measures to mitigate loss of life and property.
As many as nine people lost their lives and six others were injured in rain-related mishaps on Saturday.
Six persons were killed in rockslides at Sunnapu Battilu in Vijayawada and at Gandalayapeta in Mangalagiri. Three people, including two children, died when the car they were travelling washed away in a stream in Peddakakani mandal of Guntur district.
An alert was sounded for the people living near the River Krishna as floodwater was discharged at a rate of 4.07 lakh cusecs. First warning was issued at Prakasam Barrage.
Houses at the Singh Nagar in Vijayawada inundated in flood water.Pet lovers struggle to save their dogs as the flood hit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada.Residents of Singh Nagar wade through the flood after the Budameru canal breach in Vijayawada.Pet lovers carefully shift their cat as they wade through flood water at Sitara centre in Vijayawada.People throng a distribution centre, where food and buttermilk were being given to the flood-affected residents at Chitti Nagar in Vijayawada.