Rains throw life out of gear

Visakhapatnam: Heavy rains inundated many low-lying areas in the city and in the rural areas on Thursday. Thunderstorms accompanied by gales witnessed at Pendurty, Simhachalam, Bheemili Madhurawada areas in the city and also in Chodavaram, Elamanchili and most of the places in the agency areas.

Low-lying areas at  Gnanapuram, Ootagedda, Kobbarithota, Chakaligedda and Ramakrishna Theatre areas have been inundated with sudden downpour and drainage water entered several houses in the Old City. With soil erosion at Ootagedda area a compound wall of a house was collapsed and one person was injured. Several asbestos cement sheets of the houses were partially damaged due to gales in Bheemili and Simhachalam areas.  

The APEPDCL switched off the power at several sub-stations due to bad weather. The rain water and with drainage water flooded the roads at some places and water was stagnated for about two hours. Similarly, the four and two wheelers struck in the stagnated water.

At some places, trees were uprooted and some branches of big trees fell on the roads. Water flooded the cellar of the main administration building of the GVMC. Though the GVMC officials claimed that they are taking several steps to contain the inundation of the low-lying areas in the city, the situation has worsened on Thursday. Tonnes of garbage was witnessed on the roads and low lying areas due to two spells of the heavy rain in just 48-hours. 

Meanwhile, the officials announced that no causalities were reported so far. However, all the frontline officials and staff have been alerted to attend emergencies. Meanwhile, the IMD scientists alerted the government similar sudden climate changes will took place in the coastal region in the next three days.