Rains take heavy toll on roads in Chittoor

Tirupati: Cyclone Nivar has caused heavy damage to R& B and Panchayath roads in the district. Officials are assessing the damage caused to roads and bridges due to floods in the district. It may be noted that a 100-year-old road bridge constructed by the Britishers was washed away in Gargeya river due to floods. The bridge was the key facility for commuters to cross the Gargeya river while travelling to Punganur. Over 100 culverts and bridges were damaged across the district due to cyclone.

Officials of R &B and Panchayath Raj departments have put the loss at Rs 250 crore. Similarly, 30 years ago, a dam constructed on Pincha river was also washed out in floods.

Rajampet MP P V Mithun Reddy along with officials visited the Pincha river in K V Palle mandal on Monday, where the dam was washed out and also inspected Punganur bridge on Gargeya river at Sadumu mandal. The MP directed the officials to submit a damage assessment report before December 15 and assured to restore all the damaged bridges and roads. Many Panchayath roads were damaged in Vardhaiah Palem, Sathyavedu, B N Kandriga, Srikalahasti, Yerpedu, Pichaturu, Nidra, Nagari mandals. More than 1,500 kms roads of Panchayat Raj and R&B department have been damaged in Tirupati, Chittoor and Madanapalle divisions.

Cap: MP Mithun Reddy inspecting the dam washed away on Pincha River in Chittoor on Monday