Heavy rains dampen Deepavali spirit across South Coastal Andhra

Continuous rains across South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) since Sunday have dampened the festive spirit of middle-class youth and children, who eagerly await burning firecrackers during Deepavali. Last-minute buyers were left disappointed, while those who had already purchased firecrackers from wholesale shops had to remain indoors due to the downpour on the festive day.

Similarly, sellers of firecrackers, diyas, flowers, and decorative items in Prakasam, SPSR Nellore, and Tirupati districts have reportedly faced significant losses over the past couple of days. Retailers and roadside vendors claimed that the unexpected rainfall has caused a severe financial burden.

Markets that are usually bustling were largely deserted on Monday, and firecracker stalls saw almost no customers. Madan, a retailer at VRC Grounds in Nellore, said, “Apart from the investment in the stock, we spent about ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 to set up the stall, but made no sales.”

Santhamma, a flower seller at Kurnool Road in Ongole, added, “Hoping for good sales during this festive season, I took a loan of ₹25,000 at a high interest rate. Despite sitting in the continuous drizzle, I could not sell even a quarter of my cart. Now, I am worried because the flowers will wilt and decay in a day or two.”

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Met Centre in Amaravati, SCAP districts are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 35–45 kmph, with maximum speeds reaching 55 kmph, on Wednesday and Thursday.

In view of the forecast, five mandals in the coastal area of Prakasam district have been placed on alert by Collector P. Rajababu, who advised fishermen not to venture out to sea. Precautionary measures include identifying locations for rehabilitation centres and arranging to shift people to safer areas in case of emergencies.

Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla also held a video conference with officials to discuss preparations for the heavy rains.