Andhra Pradesh has been hit by severe floods following heavy rainfall over the past three days, with some regions recording between 29 cm to 34 cm of rain in a single day, leading to widespread devastation. The overflow of the Budameru stream through Vijayawada city has exacerbated the situation, submerging several colonies and forcing nearly two lakh residents to seek refuge on the terraces and upper floors of their homes.
In response to the crisis, Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu has shifting his administration to the flood-affected region. The CM has set up operations at the NTR District Collectorate in Vijayawada, to continuously monitor and follow the situation until the floodwaters recede and normalcy is restored. He has directed officials to prioritize the distribution of food and water to those affected.
The CM has also been in contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to recognize the flood situation as a natural calamity and secure central assistance. In response, the central government has deployed 10 NDRF teams, 40 power boats, and six helicopters to aid in the ongoing rescue operations.
Rainfall in Andhra Pradesh
ఆంద్రప్రదేశ్ లొ వర్షపాతం నమెదు 02/09/2024#RainAlert #Rain #Hyderabad #hyderabadrains #VijayawadaFloods #Vijayawada #AndhraPradeshRains pic.twitter.com/5KSDgVJeHZ
— WEATHER UPDATE S AP/TG (@ap_tg_weather9) September 2, 2024
విజయవాడ: ప్రాజెక్టు నిర్మాణం తర్వాత ప్రకాశం బ్యారేజీ చరిత్రలో ఎన్నడూ లేనంత వరదను ఎదుర్కొంటోంది. 12 లక్షల క్యూసెక్కుల ఇన్ ఫ్లో వచ్చే అవకాశం ఉంది#VijayawadaFloods #Flood pic.twitter.com/GcqM9aLFZC
— WEATHER UPDATE S AP/TG (@ap_tg_weather9) September 2, 2024
Chandrababu Naidu informed about the heavy rainfall on X, stating, “This is the largest flood in 121 years. In 1903 and 2009, the flood flow exceeded ten lakh cusecs. Now, it has surged past 11.36 lakh cusecs.”
121 ఏళ్ల చరిత్రలో ఇదే అతిపెద్ద వరద. 1903లో, 2009 లో వరద ప్రవాహం పది లక్షల క్యుసెక్స్ దాటింది. ఇప్పుడు ఏకంగా 11.36 లక్షల క్యుసెక్కులు దాటేసింది. (1/2)
— CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) September 2, 2024
Particularly, the NTR District is grappling with severe flooding following unprecedented heavy rainfall. As of 1:00 PM today, the district has recorded a cumulative rainfall of 329.7 mm, a staggering deviation of 1828% from the normal 17.1 mm. Vijayawada city alone has experienced 327.2 mm of rainfall, exceeding the normal by 2220% during the period from August 31 to September 2.
The intense rainfall has resulted in significant human and infrastructural losses. Eight people have died, including five from Mogalrajapuram in Vijayawada City due to a rockslide. Three additional fatalities occurred in Vijayawada Rural, G Konduru Mandal, and Reddygudem Mandal, all caused by drowning. Furthermore, three individuals are reported missing.
Rail services have been severely impacted, with Rayanapadu and Kondapalli stations submerged, leading to the suspension of train services on both lines. A total of 140 trains have been canceled, and 97 trains have been diverted due to the flooding.
Vehicle movement between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has come to a standstill. At Aitavaram in Nandigama Mandal, floodwaters have significantly inundated National Highway 65, leading to a major disruption in traffic. Authorities have advised travelers on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway to closely monitor the flood situation and plan their journeys accordingly.
In response to the crisis, extensive rescue and relief operations are underway. The district has opened 67 shelters, accommodating 11,567 displaced individuals, and established 67 health camps. The Government of India has been requested to deploy six helicopters for airlifting stranded people and air-dropping food items, as well as ten NDRF teams and 40 motorized boats for search and rescue operations. One helicopter has already arrived in Vijayawada.
To aid in the evacuation, 53 boats—comprising 18 non-motorized and 35 motorized—are operational in areas such as Ajithsingh Nagar, YSR Colony, Jakkampudi Colony, and Ambapuram. An additional 56 boats from Kakinada, Eluru, and Prakasam are expected to arrive by 5:00 PM today. Moreover, 64 boats are being arranged in Krishna and Bapatla Districts for continued rescue efforts. Currently, 301 active swimmers are assisting with the rescue operations alongside the boats.
#Vijayawadafloods: Late last evening, @IAF_MCC swiftly responded to the call for augmenting NDRF effort. Two IL-76 aircraft took off at dawn from Halwara and Bhatinda, airlifting 242 NDRF personnel and 30 tons of relief material to Vijayawada and Shamshabad. Helicopters are also… pic.twitter.com/doAFWKHt58
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 2, 2024
On Sunday, Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar conducted a tour of the flood-affected regions. He visited the waterlogged crop fields in Uppalapadu, where he assessed the damage and engaged with farmers to discuss the extent of the losses sustained.
As of 02-09-2024 @ 12:00 Noon, the rain fall sitatution.
Cumulative Rainfall: The state has received a total of 548.4 mm of rainfall since June 1, exceeding the normal 429.1 mm by 27.8% (excess).
Today’s Rainfall (01-09-2024 8:30 AM to 02-09-2024 8:30 AM): The average cumulative rainfall was 2.7 mm, compared to the normal 4.5 mm. Vatsavai in NTR District recorded the highest rainfall of 38.2 mm.
Rainfall Forecast:
02 September: Light to moderate rain is expected at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Eluru, Guntur, NTR, Palnadu, Annamayya, Chittoor, and Tirupathi districts.
03 September: Light to moderate rain is anticipated at isolated locations in Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore, Kurnool, Nandyal, Ananthapuram, Sri Satya Sai, YSR, Annamayya, Chittoor, and Tirupathi districts.
Depression/Cyclone Movement (as of 8:10 AM, 02-09-2024): The depression over South Chhattisgarh and adjoining South Odisha has moved west-northwest at a speed of 17 kmph. As of 1730 hours IST on September 1, 2024, it is centered over South Chhattisgarh near latitude 19.0°N and longitude 81.2°E, approximately 90 km west of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), 190 km east of Ramagundam (Telangana), 230 km southeast of Bramhapuri (Maharashtra), and 230 km east-southeast of Chandrapur (Maharashtra). The system is expected to move nearly northwestwards across South Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha and weaken into a Well Marked Low Pressure Area within the next 12 hours.
