Rains pound several parts of AP, Hyderabad

Hyderabad, One person was killed and crops in 87,896 hectares were badly affected as heavy rains lashed several parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Coastal districts and Rayalaseema regions bore the brunt of the heavy downpour that led to submergence of low-lying areas in several towns and villages across the two regions and threw normal life out of gear.
Several rivulets and other water bodies were in spate in consequence to the heavy rains.
Mandasa in Srikakulam district received 17 cm of rainfall, followed by Sompeta (15 cm), Ichapuram 15 (cm), Anakapalli (12 cm), Prathipadu (12 cm), Kakinada (12 cm) -- all in the coastal districts.
Several other towns in Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana received over five cm of rainfall, according to official sources.
One person was killed in Guntur district and crops in 87,896 hectares faced inundation or damage, they said.
Relief camps have been set up in Visakhapatnam (14) and Prakasam (7) districts for residents of vulnerable areas.
Meanwhile, heavy rain pounded several parts of Hyderabad this evening, resulting in water-logging at various low-lying areas which also triggered massive traffic jams.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation in Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra and also Hyderabad with Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and other officials.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to take necessary measures to cope with the situation arising out of the heavy rains, the sources said.
Officials informed that an upper air cyclonic system would form over southwest Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours which may further develop into a 'Low Pressure' area and would move west northwestwards.
The 'well marked' low pressure area lays over South West Bay of Bengal off North Tamil Nadu-South Andhra Pradesh coast and caused heavy rainfall in the coastal districts and also Rayalaseema and Telangana.
The district collectors were directed to consider evacuation of people, if necessary, from the low-lying areas, whose houses are likely to be submerged and accommodate them in flood relief camps, sources added.