Heavy rain damages crop on 80,000 acres in Srikakulam dt.

SRIKAKULAM, November 5, 2012



The aftermath of Cyclone 'Nilam\' continues to cause havoc in Andhra Pradesh with unprecedented damage to Srikakulam district following floods in Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers. Bahuda and Mahendra Tanaya rivers are also in spate with heavy rains in the catchment areas of Odisha. Almost 80, 000 acres of crop have been damaged and 43 villages inundated in the district. The officials of all the mandals have been alerted to provide shelter for the people living in low-lying areas. Around 40 houses have collapsed in Srikakulam, Rajam, Santakaviti mandals.



Nagavali river which passes through Srikakulam town was in spate on Sunday morning. With heavy inflows from the catchment area, 71,000 cusecs of water was released on Sunday evening. The flood waters were lapping at the old bridge in Gujaratipet, though officials denied any threat to it. Rivulets, tanks and reservoirs were overflowing in several mandals including Amudalavalasa, Laveru, Nandigam, Narasannapeta, Itchapuram, Kotturu and other areas.



There has been no respite from rains for the entire Srikakulam district since Wednesday. The situation has further deteriorated with the heavy rain from Sunday night. Normal life was completely thrown out of gear. Rain water entered the Srikakulam RTC bus stand, causing inconvenience to the travellers. China Bazar and Rytu Bazar areas also turned into ponds, forcing people to remain indoors. Srikakulam Collector Saurabh Gaur who reviewed the flood situation on early hours of Monday, declared a holiday for all schools in the district.



"We halted vehicles' movement in Palakonda-Parvatipuram road with the damage to the bridge. We have not yet established rehabilitation centers since the situation is under control. However, the administration is geared to handle any eventuality," said Mr.Gaur. Bus and rain connectivity has been cut-off to remote places of the district. Hundreds of travellers were stranded in Srikakulam Railway Station at Amudalavalasa with the cancellation of several trains on both the routes.



PTI adds:



Train movement disrupted on KK line



Goods and passenger train movement on the Kirandul-Kothavalasa (KK) line was disrupted due to breaches and falling of oulders on the track at various sites due to heavy rains, officials said.



Forty meters of rail track and seven meters of land underneath the track at Boddavara near Srungavarapukota on the KK line was damaged due to heavy downpour during the last few days.



The track restoration work is going on in full swing and the main line would be restored by tonight, Additional Divisional Railway Manager C Madhusudhana Rao told PTI on Monday.



It would take another 24 hours to restore the second line as big boulders had fallen on the track, he said.



KK line is important for transportation of iron ore from Kirundul in Chhattisgarh and nearby areas.
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