Flood toll moves up, many feared killed in landslide

Hyderabad, Aug 3 (UNI) Four persons were killed and scores of people feared dead in a landslide as heavy rains pounded Coastal Andhra Pradesh under the influence of a depression.

The natural fury threw normal life out of gear and disrupted road and air traffic. Power supply also was affected in the worst-hit Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

While one person was washed away in flash floods, the others were killed in wall collapses, officials said.

As many 20 houses were buried following a landslide in hilly Varakavadi village, once a naxalite stronghold, in Kurupam Mandal, 145 KM from the district headquarters of Vizianagaram. ''Rescue teams are unable to reach the interior village immediately due to pitch dark conditions'', officials said.

Water entered into the power house in Machkund, disrupting power supply in Srikakulam district. Road traffic on the arterial Chennai-Kolkata National Highway was disrupted as flood waters crossed the road in several places in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram Districts.

A huge tree fell near a railway track at Nellimarla, affecting vehicular traffic between the two districts.

UNI TEAM BR/SM ARB GC2225