Heavy rains from a cyclonic storm that slammed into Odisha’s coast early Friday have sparked floods in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, swamping low-lying areas along the Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers.
The storm made landfall near Gopalpur in Odisha, and experts at the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre say it’s now heading north-northwest through interior Odisha. It should weaken into a low-pressure system within the next 12 hours.
This weather system is dumping heavy downpours across north coastal districts, with forecasts calling for intense rain in Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, and Yanam. Some spots could see extremely heavy rainfall, pushing totals over 20 centimeters and raising the risk of flash floods.
Meteorologists issued a red alert for Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Vizianagaram districts, urging residents to stay vigilant against sudden flooding. Rains in neighboring Odisha have swelled rivers here, flooding villages and farmland in Srikakulam.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has warned people in these districts to prepare. A second flood alert went out for the Gotta Barrage in Srikakulam, where water inflows hit 80,844 cusecs Friday morning. APSDMA chief Prakhar Jain advised folks near river basins to take safety steps right away.
Tragedy struck early Friday when heavy rains caused a wall to collapse in Savarabattur village, Mandasa mandal of Srikakulam district, killing a couple: Savara Budiya, 58, and Rupamma, 60.
Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu, a Srikakulam native, checked in on the flood situation and told officials to stay on high alert. He called the district collector and police chief, pushing them to monitor everything closely.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also jumped into action, holding a video call from his Amaravati residence with collectors from north coastal Andhra districts. He asked about on-ground conditions and ordered officials to keep power supplies steady amid the heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
Naidu stressed the need for quick alerts in flood-prone areas, as warned by the weather department. He directed teams to set up 24/7 control rooms to deliver essential services to those affected by the cyclonic storm’s aftermath.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
