Death toll mounts to 61 in AP

Hyderabad, Aug 11 (UNI) The death toll in rain-related incidents went up to 61 today in Andhra Pradesh with scores of villages being marooned in Coastal Andhra and Telangana Districts due to heavy rainfall in the last three days.

Disaster Managment Officials said 16 people were killed in Guntur, 8 each in West Godavari and Nalgonda, 7 in Hyderabad, 5 in Ranga Reddy, 4 each in East Godavari and Warangal, 3 in Krishna, 2 in Khammam and one each in Karim Nagar, Adilabad, Medak and Vizianagaram Districts.

As many as 12,355 houses were damaged in the heavy rainfall and livestock loss was reported to be 76. Food and water packets were being distributed in the affected areas.

Inflows into rivulets, ponds and streams was receding in many as the intensity of rainfall declined.

Depression over North Interior Orissa remained practically stationery and lay centered near Keonjhargarh. The system was likely to move in a Northwesterly direction and weaken gradually.

Under its influence, isolated heavy rainfall was likely over north Coastal Andhra during in the next 24 hours, the Meteorological Department officials said.

Meanwhile, a report from Guntur said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy handed over Rs two lakh each to families of those who died yesterday when the empty sand tipper lorry carrying 30 passengers was washed away while crossing a rivulet at Naralakullapadu in the District.

As many as ten bodies were recovered even as 13 persons still remained missing. Rescue operations resumed this morning.

A report from Vijayawada said All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) today demanded an ex-gratia of Rs three lakh each to the families of those died in the rain fury besides compensation for damaged and destroyed houses.

Addressing the press, AIKS Vice President Kolli Nageswara Rao crops on lakhs of acre was damaged in Coastal and Telangana Regions.

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