Heavy rains throw normal life out of gear

HYDERABAD: The south-west monsoon turned ‘vigorous’ in the state under the influence of a low pressure over the Bay, causing heavy rains over  coastal Andhra and Telangana regions in the past 24 hours and throwing life out of gear at many places. More rains are expected in these regions in the next 48 hours, while there will be isolated rainfall at a few places in Rayalaseema region.One Viswanath (30) of Koutala mandal in Adilabad was feared drowned in Pedabandla stream while crossing it near his village on Thursday. Due to the incessant rains in Adilabad district, the culvert over Batukamma vaagu near Chennuru connecting 72 villages in  Thotapalli and Vemanapalli mandals was washed away severing the link to these villages. The bridge near Gorlapalle was also damaged due to flooding. Three persons including an infant had a narrow escape when the roof of their house collapsed in Sultanabad in Karimnagar district on Wednesday night.They were admitted to a hospital with severe injuries but were said to be out of danger. Roads were damaged in West Godavari and Srikakulam districts at several places.  Several low-lying areas in Visakhapatnam including Visalakshinagar were inundated with rain water entering the houses. About 16 mechanical boats which were anchored near Visakhapatnam were carried away into the sea resulting in an estimated loss of about Rs one crore to fishermen. With heavy inflows due to rains, the officials lifted five gates of Taliperu reservoir in Khammam district.There was good rainfall in Warangal, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and West Godavari districts. The Met officials attributed the heavy rains to the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. The trough of low pressure moved over land and is weakening. However, heavy rains are expected in Telangana and Coastal Andhra in the next 48 hours.Mulug in Warangal district recorded highest rainfall of 20 cm till 4 p.m. on Thursday, followed by 17 cm at Narsapuram in West Godavari district, 13 cm each at Visakhapatnam and Bhoopalpalli in Warangal district, and 11 cm each at Kalingapatnam (Srikakulam), Bheemili (Visakhapatnam), Narsampet (Warangal district) and Sirpur (Adilabad district).