Though cyclone Nilam made landfall near Chennai and dissipated subsequently, the rains that it triggered in the north coastal districts of East and West Godavari, Khammam, Krishna and Guntur on Saturday created havoc and disrupted normal life.
Two persons in Paloncha and an equal number in Dammapeta, both in Khammam district, were washed away in overflowing streams. The district recorded an average 10.8 cm of rain, with the highest being in Vemsoor (22.4 cm) followed by Dammapeta (22.3 cm). Mining came to a halt with rain waters flooding open cast mines in Yellandu, Managuru and Tekullapalle. Several streams and rivulets are overflowing and many tanks were reported to have breached.
Increase in inflows into reservoirs from catchment areas were reported, leading to lifting of gates of several dams. Five gates of Kinnerasani Project were lifted at 6 p.m., and water was released at 25,000 cusec. Gates of Taliperu and Peddavagu were also lifted.
In Krishna district, with huge inflows from the catchments areas into the Krishna river, authorities had to open opened the 55 crest gates of Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada and were releasing 1,11,000 cusec of water into the sea.
Incessant rains, saw several rivulets and streams, including Budameru, swelling up and flowing above the danger mark in Krishna district. One person got washed away in the Kumpini Vagu of Agiripalli mandal while he was trying to cross the stream on his bike.
In Guntur district too, the situation is no different, with streams and rivulets flush with flood water. Drains are overflowing in Guntur town and a 50 year old man was reported to have been washed away in a drain.
People of Prakasam district also saw overflowing drains, flooded roads and traffic blocks on arterial roads. Several thousands of acres of standing crops were reported to be submerged.
Eluru town in West Godavari is on the brink of being flooded with the Tamileru canal, which passes through the town, swelling up alarmingly. People from several low-lying areas were being evacuated when the last reports came in. Vehicular traffic was halted between Eluru - Kaikalur and Janngareddyguden - Jeelugumilli. Here too, several thousands of acres of standing crop were submerged.
According to officials, a total of 1,79,233.8 hectares of crops were affected.
According to district collector Vani Mohan, four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as well navy teams from Visakhapatnam have been deployed in the district to assist the district administration in rescue and relief work.
In East Godavri, Pampa reservoir at Annavaram, Yeleuru reservoir at Eleswaram are receiving heavy inflows. Vehicular movement on Korukonda-Gokavaram route has been stopped as some part of the road is submerged in rainwater. Several low-lying areas in Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and Pitapuram were reported to be inundated. People in those areas were evacuated to safer places.
Meanwhile, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed chief secretary Minnie Mathew to closely monitor the flood and heavy rains situation.
Thirteen relief camps have been opened in many places in Prakasam district. One relief camp was opened in East Godavari district.
