Heavy rains death toll in AP touches 53

Hyderabad, Oct 28 : The death toll due to heavy rains have so far claimed 53 lives across Andhra Pradesh.

Besides, 53 deaths, as many as six people have been reported missing. The maximum of eight deaths each are reported from Guntur and Prakasam districts followed by Nalgonda (7); Mahabubnagar (6) and three each in Hyderabad, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Chittoor, West Godavari, Warangal, Vishakapatnam and two each in Srikakulam and Krishna and one in Karimnagar. Most of the deaths have occurred due to wall or house collapse.

As many as 5,186 villages in 567 mandals of 16 districts were affected due to heavy rains and consequent flooding. The most affected district was West Godavari where 901 villages faced the havoc of heavy rains followed by Mahabubnagar (853 villages), Srikakulam (800), Krishna (710), Nalgonda (734) and Visakhapatnam where 364 villages were hit.

The other affected districts are Vizainagaram, East Godavari, Guntur, Prakasam, Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Kurnool, YSR Kadapa, Ananthapuram, Medak, Warangal and Karimnagar. As many as 42,071 houses were damaged across the State with Nalgonda on top with 12,045 houses followed by Mahabubnagar with 7,356 houses.

So far, the authorities have evacuated 2,20,245 people from low-lying areas and shifted them to 384 relief camps set up in 10 districts. As many as 543 medical camps have also been set up where 14,287 people ahve been treated. In addition, 603 medical team, 530 medical officers and 3,253 para-medical personnel have also been deployed in the affected districts.

Crops spread across 11.37 lakh Hectares have been inundated. They include Cotton (5.97 lakh Ha), Paddy (4.72 lakh Ha), Maize (0.25 lakh Ha), Groundnut (0.16 Lakh Ha), Redgram (0.04 lakh Ha), Sugarcane (0.06 lakh Ha), Tobacco (0.05 lakh Ha) and Blackgram (0.03 lakh Ha) while Horticulture crops spreads across 51,156 Ha have been damaged. As many as 1,786 cattle have also died due to heavy rains.

In the Fisheries Sector, a total of 1,721 boats, 3,366 nets, 58 tanks and farming ponds of 184 Hectares have been damaged. Similarly, 1177 Yarns and 166 Looms were also damaged while water into 28,251 Pit Looms.

A total of 19 NDRF teams are working in the affected districts and eight teams of Navy have been dispatched to affected mandals in Vishakapatnam.

As many as 1,409 minor tanks have breached while 10,000 kilometres of R&B and Panchayat roads have been damaged. Rural water supply has been affected due to damage to 158 MPWSS/PWSS and 42 CPWSS.

In Urban areas, roads spread across 688.28 km, open drains over 735.65 km, Pipe line of 829.15 km, 8,868 streetlights and 17 buildings were damaged. As many as 1,594 weaver families in Krishna and 28 in Visakhapatnam districts were affected.

The loss due to heavy rains and floods is estimated to be around Rs 3,756 crore. Nalgonda district is on top with Rs 1,075 Crore losses followed by Guntur (Rs 712 Cr), Prakasam (Rs 596 Cr), Krishna (Rs 416 Cr), Warangal (Rs 411 Cr), West Godavari (Rs 384 Cr), Mahbubnagar (Rs 142 Cr) and Medak (Rs 20 Cr). INN