43 killed in AP rains, monsoon lashes other parts of country

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) At least 43 people were killed in rain-related incidents and 11 feared dead in Andhra Pradesh as the River Godavari flowed above the third danger level mark in the temple town of Bhadrachalam in the wake of heavy rainfall.

Over 62,000 people were being evacuated and two helicopters pressed into service from Bangalore to drop food packets in the affected areas as the level in the river rose to 61 feet, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad before leaving for an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas.

The level in River Godavari was rising by one foot every hour and it was likely to touch 68 feet, Dr Reddy said. Twelve launches had been arranged to rescue marooned people.

Visakhapatnam district accounted for a maximum of 12 deaths followed by Vizianagaram (11), East Godavari and Khammam (five each), Hyderabad, Warangal and Srikakulam (three each) and Adilabad (one), he said.

Eleven people were feared trapped in debris following a landslide in a village in Vizianagaram district.

Reports from Nanded said army has been called in to assist the district administration as communication was cut off to 25 villages following worsened flood situation in the district. The water level in Godavari reached danger level today.

''The district administration has so far shifted about 4,000 people from various low lying areas of Nanded city and have also rescued about 13 persons from flood surrounded Amdura village about 20 km away from here,'' District Collector Radhakrushna Mopalwar told UNI.

Besides army, the district administration has also asked for two Air Force helicopters and they would be reaching Nanded to assist the administration in the rescue operations.

Reports from Mumbai said incessant rains have once again hit parts of the city, throwing traffic out of gear in several parts of the Island city and its suburbs.

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