Heavy rains disrupt normal life in coastal AP

Hyderabad, June 20: Normal life was disrupted in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh as incessant rain continued to lash the region for the third consecutive day today. Many low-lying areas were submerged in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East & West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts. A person drowned in a lake in West Godavari district. Nearly 140 fishermen were stranded in mid sea off Kakinada coast. The fishermen ventured into sea in 20 boats on June 17th. East Godavari Collector H Arun Kumar and Minister Ravela Kishore Babu held a meeting with Coast Guard officials for launching search and rescue operations. The Minister said that an aerial survey will be conducted to intensify relief operations. Electricity poles were uprooted at several places and traffic was disrupted as several rivulets and streams were in spate. The rains have also delayed ongoing Pushkaram works. Transport facilities were cut off to hundreds of villages as roads were inundated with flood water. Meanwhile, officials warned fishermen not to venture into the sea. IMD forecast heavy rains in some places in the State in the next three days.