PM Modi Assures Central Support to Andhra Pradesh in Wake of Heavy Rains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of comprehensive support from the Centre following heavy rains in the state. Modi contacted Naidu to discuss the flood situation, particularly in Vijayawada, which has been severely affected by continuous rainfall over the past two days due to a depression.

Relief Efforts and Central Assistance

During their conversation, CM Naidu detailed the ongoing flood relief efforts. Modi informed him that relevant central government departments have been instructed to provide necessary assistance to the state. An official statement from the state government confirmed this late Sunday. The prime minister also mentioned that departments have been directed to dispatch essential equipment immediately. Naidu expressed his gratitude for the support.

Earlier on Sunday, Naidu requested additional National Disaster Response Force teams, power boats, and helicopters from the Centre to enhance relief operations. Meanwhile, the South Central Railway (SCR) zone, headquartered in Secunderabad and including the Vijayawada Division, cancelled 140 trains and diverted 97 more on Sunday.

Impact on Railway Services

Nearly 6,000 passengers received breakfast and drinking water at various railway stations including Rayanapadu, Kondapalli, Tenali, Vijayawada, Nidubrolu, and Bapatla. The Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express was halted at Rayanapadu railway station where passengers were provided with packed food items and lunch arrangements.

The railways also set up emergency control rooms and helplines while arranging alternative travel provisions by organising buses from Rayanapadu to Vijayawada and Kondapalli to Vijayawada. A total of 84 buses were arranged for this purpose.

Weather Warnings and Travel Advisories

Telangana’s Suryapeta Superintendent of Police Sunpreet Singh advised people travelling to Vijayawada and Khammam to postpone their journeys due to adverse weather conditions. "Due to heavy rains, water is flowing on NH 65 at Chillakallu and Nandigama of Andhra Pradesh limits, and the Paleru river is overflowing on the road at Nayakinigudem on the way from Suryapet to Khammam," said Singh in a press release.

As part of security measures, vehicles heading to Vijayawada through Suryapeta were stopped. Around midnight, Naidu made his second visit to Ajit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada, one of the worst-affected areas that experienced more than 12 hours of continuous power cut on Sunday.

Flood Relief Operations

Accompanied by officials in a boat, Naidu distributed food packets to flood victims. Several places in Vijayawada were submerged in floodwaters with water gushing through numerous houses. At 12 am on Monday, 10.56 lakh cusecs of floodwaters were discharged from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada.

The Palnadu district administration rescued 50 cattle rearers and 3,501 livestock from the meadows of Krishna river’s riparian villages, according to an official statement. Additionally, the meteorological department has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in parts of Andhra Pradesh for four days from September 2 to 5.

Meteorological Forecast

The forecast includes thunderstorms at isolated places in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam, South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP), and Rayalaseema on Monday. Similar weather conditions are predicted from Tuesday to Friday over NCAP and Yanam, along with strong surface winds reaching speeds up to 40 km per hour in parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The situation remains critical as authorities continue their efforts to manage the crisis caused by heavy rains and flooding in Andhra Pradesh.