Thousands evacuated from coastal Andhra as heavy rain lashes coastline

Many areas in coastal Andhra may face a similar situation to Chennai, which is practically submerged, as heavy rains continued to wreak havoc in the Rayalaseema region

Thunderclouds hovered over Machilipatnam, Guntur, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Malkangiri too, The Hindu reported.

A report in the Times of India adds:

Flashfloods left villagers stranded in the middle of a rivulet in Doravarisatram mandal in Nellore district, while the 1,500-year-old Srikalahasti temple in Chittoor district was inundated with rain waters entering the shrine. Incessant rains pounded Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa, Prakasam and parts of East Godavari districts, paralysing normal life. People were forced to remain indoors, while those who ventured out had a tough time negotiating the heavy downpour.

According to reports, the Swarnamukhi River at Sri Kalahasti was overflowing, while Ariniyar, Krishnapuram and Bahuda reservoirs were full with water. 

Many towns like Nellore, Kadapa, Atmakur, Gudur, Chittoor, Puttur, Nagari, Venkatagiri and Naidupet witnessed unprecedented rain, with around 10,000 people have been evacuated from lowlying areas in the coastal mandals, the report adds.

The temple town of Tirumala, which was on the brink of a water crisis, also received heavy rains as TTD officials closed one of the ghat roads owing to large rocks rolling down the hill.