Heavy rains that lashed Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region have disrupted normal life in several areas, especially in Kurnool district, where several mandals in the Nandyal division witnessed flash floods.
“The heavy downpour has rivers, streams and tanks overflowing, triggering flash floods in nine mandals of Nandyal, Allagadda, Mahanandi, Chagalamarri, Rudravaram, Sirivella, Gospadu, Dornipadu, and Koilakuntla,” Irrigation Department Executive Engineer E. Balachandra Reddy was quoted as saying.
Water also entered the famous Mahanadi temple in the district, as videos from Tuesday showed water gushing at a rapid pace, thereby flooding the entire premises.
Andhra Pradesh: Flood water enters the premises of Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple in Kurnool district. Kundu river in the district is overflowing with flood water. pic.twitter.com/iuWJ7W233P
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
#WATCH Andhra Pradesh: Mahanandi Temple in Kurnool district's Mahanandi gets flooded following incessant heavy rainfall since last night. Kundu river in the district is overflowing with flood water. pic.twitter.com/twuUVilFlP
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
Several villages were also cut off as a result of the rain. The heavy showers inundated parts of railway tracks in the Guntur-Guntakal division, while media reports stated that National Highway 46 between Allagadda and Chagalamarri was also flooded, affecting travel between Chennai and Hyderabad.
Authorities swiftly stepped into action, as personnel of the AP State Disaster Response Force and Fire Services Department were deployed on the ground to distribute relief material and ensure that locals had access to drinking water and other supplies.
Officials of the Fire Department said that around 30 families in Saraswathi nagar near Nandyala were rescued with ropes, as the Kundu river overflowed and the floodwater cut off residential houses.
As per Instructions of Collector , RWS SE and Nandyala Mpl Commissioner are Supplying Safe Drinking Water through a Tanker in Nandipalli,which was inundated with Flash Flood Water , in Mahanandi Mandal, on 17 -9-19 pic.twitter.com/8d8xF41XGh
— DDIPR_KNL (@ddipr_knl) September 17, 2019
Sir relief work at RS gajulapalli chenchu gudem village at mahanandi mandal.gudem was Inundated due to heavy rain. Kurnool district pic.twitter.com/o8e53EvnJQ
— DDIPR_KNL (@ddipr_knl) September 17, 2019
Nandyala Fire unit rescued 30 families in Saraswathi nagar Nandyala with ropes under the charge of Yogeeswar reddy SFO Nandyala where Kundu river flood water cardoned the residential houses...Sreenivasa Reddy District Fire Officer - kurnool district pic.twitter.com/TKwXEEowtY
— DDIPR_KNL (@ddipr_knl) September 17, 2019
District Superintendent of Police Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli, also took stock of the situation and said that helplines have been opened up for the general public.
Besides '100', the police officer said that people could also contact control room at 08514243094 for any assistance.
Evacuation and relief measures in flood affected #Nandyal sub division
— Dr.Fakkeerappa Kaginelli IPS (@SP_Kurnool) September 17, 2019
Control room number:08514243094
DIAL 100 for any assistance @AndhraPradeshCM @vidura_t
@ pic.twitter.com/DduGhUBo8x
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the rains were likely to continue and issued an alert, that will be in place till the early hours of September 22.
"Heavy to very heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Anantapur, Chittoor Kurnool and Kadapa of Rayalaseema," the warning states.