Death toll in AP rains up to 32

Hyderabad, Aug 10 (UNI) The death toll in rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh rose to 32 even as the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal has been bringing heavy rainfall to the State in the last two days.

State Disaster Management Additional Commissioner G D Priyadarshini said seven people were killed in Hyderabad, seven in Nalgonda, four each in Guntur, West Godavari, Krishna and Ranga Reddy,three in Medak, two in Warangal and one in Karim Nagar Districts even as rivulets, ponds were overflowing and traffic went haywire in the floods.

Reviewing the flood situation with officials concerned and Ministers here, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekahra Reddy said the crops on 1.27 lakh acre were damaged.

Agriculture Department officials informed Dr Reddy crops on 90,000 hectare were completely damaged in Krishna, East and West Godavari districts.

As many as 75 relief camps were set up in flood-affected districts ,Dr Reddy said.

Vehicular traffic was affected in Krishna and Warangal District due to floods and Rs 8 crore would be spent for temporary repairs of damaged roads.

Vehicular traffic, badly affected in Khammam District, would be restored in the next 24 hours. Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus services were suspended in the affected districts.

A sum of Rs one lakh ex-gratia would be paid to the family members of the victims, Dr Reddy said adding Medical and Health Department had been alerted and teams sent to prevent outbreak of epidemics in the agency and flood-affected areas.

The Indian Meteorological Department officials informed the Chief Minister that isolated heavy rainfall would occur in Coastal Andhra in the next 24 hours and in Telnagana in 48 hours.

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