Hyderabad, Aug 27: Even as the massive relief and rehabilitation operations were on in full swing in the rain-ravaged areas of Andhra Pradesh, a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal off north Andhra coast is likely to bring more rain to the State.
The heavy rain and floods early this week claimed more than 140 lives and caused extensive damage to crop and property to the tune of more than Rs 700 crore, preliminary estimates said.
The Army has been put on alert to assist civil authorities. The Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service to rescue marooned people and to airdrop food and drinking water packets.
The more than century-old Fox Sagar tank near Jeedimetla about 20 km from here breached early on Sunday, inundating several colonies near the lake.
Authorities fear that about 20 colonies in the vicinity of lake were likely to be affected. The waters were also likely to flow into the Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the City.
Hundreds of Army and police personnel were engaged in plugging the breach and evacuating people in nearby colonies.
The weather office here said most parts of the State have been experiencing widespread heavy rain during the overnight.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been visiting the rain and flood-affected areas, was personally supervising the relief and rehabilitation operations.
An 11-member central team, headed by Central Agricultural Minister Nitish Kumar, visited some of the affected areas in the city, Bapatla and Nandyal on Saturday.
Kumar has said the situation in the state was a fit case for special assistance and promised substantial relief.
The Chief Minister, who had presented a memorandum to the central team had put the loss in the natural calamity at Rs.77.5 crore.
— UNI
