Heavy rains claim 10 lives in Andhra Pradesh

 Hyderabad, Oct 24: The State Government has confirmed that at least 10 people have been killed in the last 24 hours due to heavy rains in several parts of the Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to media persons after participating in the review meeting held by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the State Secretariat here on Thursday, Revenue Minister Dr N Raghuveera Reddy said that while four people were killed in Prakasam district, six deaths have been reported from Hyderabad and other places in the State due to rain-related incidents. Crops spread across 2.5 lakh hectares and nearly 300 houses were damaged due to heavy rains.

So far, about 6,500 people have been shifted from low-lying areas to 19 relief camps set up in the affected areas. He informed that nine passengers of a bus who were stranded in floods in Prakasam have been rescued by the local residents and authorities.

Stating that the relief and rescue operations was being taken up on war footing, he said all the District Administrations have been put on alert in view of a warning by the Met Department of heavy to very heavy rains in the several parts of the State during the next two days. He said help would be sought from the National Disaster Management Authority and other agencies, wherever required. He appealed to the people to assist and cooperate with the local authorities in the relief and rehabilitation works.

- INN