Heavy rains claim seven lives in Guntur

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Sept. 23 (ANI): At least seven people have died and two have been declared missing following heavy rains and a flood-like situation in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district. Having so far received 42.6 mm of rainfall, Mangalagiri in Guntur district has been declared as the worst-affected area. Several villages and colonies in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Kurnool districts are inundated. Heavy rains also lashed East and West Godavari districts on Thursday, resulting in rain water flowing onto roads. In Guntur district's Sattenapalli and Narsaraopet areas, vehicular traffic came to a standstill. The Met Department has forecasted further heavy to very heavy showers across Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 to 48 hours. The southwest monsoon has been active over Andhra Pradesh and this has affected communication links at many places. The Basavamma Vagu, Eddu Vagu streams have overflowed onto the Guntur-Hyderabad highway. Revenue officials are providing relief to people in inundated areas, including food and drinking water packets. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed the overall situation in the state and instructed officials to provide all necessary help and medicines to people in the affected areas. Around 7,000 people were evacuated from different colonies in of the city. The National Disaster Response Force has been called in. Till now, locals have used ropes to bring marooned people to safety. Breaches in the walls of ponds have also exacerbated the situation. (ANI)