Heavy downpour in AP; 10 killed in rain-related incidents

Ten people were killed in various rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh as incessant rains lashed the state for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

State Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy told reporters that over 6,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps in view of the heavy downpour. He said 19 relief camps have been set up and teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed for rescue and relief work.

Crops in about 2.5 lakh acres of paddy, cotton, redgram and maize suffered damages. Nearly 300 houses were also damaged, he said.

The heavy rains, triggered by north east monsoon, pounded the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions for the last three days.

The rains inundated low-lying areas in a number of towns and villages across the two regions and led to water logging on the roads and highways. Several rivers like Bahuda, Vamsadhara in Srikakulam district and rivulets were in spate in consequence to the heavy rains.