Tribal Areas hit by heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh, over 60 villages cut off

Visakhapatnam: Heavy rainfall, induced by a low-pressure system, has severely affected the tribal areas in the North Andhra region, particularly in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district.

The continuous downpour over the past 48 hours has caused numerous streams and rivulets to overflow, resulting in more than 60 villages losing connectivity with the outside world. A temporary road laid at a bridge near the Rajupakalu village area was washed away, disrupting traffic flow between the Chintapalli and Narsipatnam route.The floodwaters have inundated many farm fields in low-lying areas, causing significant damage to crops.

The Pedabayalu-Paderu mandal border villages have lost connection due to floodwaters reaching the Paradaniput Bridge. Additionally, the road between Paderu and G Madugula has been disrupted as the Matsyagedda river has overflowed, and floodwaters have covered the road.

Causeways have been washed away in several places, and farm fields have turned into ponds and canals due to the heavy inflow of floodwaters in streams and rivulets, including Matsyagedda, Raigedda, Chilakamamidigedda, Chaparaigedda, Sampangigedda, Lochaligedda, Kodimamidigedda, and others.

Meanwhile, a boulder fell on the ghat road at Kosamput in the Rangabayalu panchayat, further exacerbating the situation.The Alluri district has been experiencing heavy rainfall, with 10 to 13 centimeters of rain every day or every other day over the past three months. The prolonged heavy rainfall has taken a toll on the region's infrastructure and agriculture, causing widespread disruptions to normal life.