Heavy Rainfall Floods Villages in Andhra Pradeshs Srikakulam District
Heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab have flooded several villages in Srikakulam, disrupting transport and damaging crops.
Srikakulam, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab has submerged multiple villages in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, leading to significant disruptions in road and rail transport, as well as severe crop damage.
The incessant downpour and floodwaters from neighboring Odisha have caused rivers such as Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahendratanaya, and Bahuda to swell dangerously. In Ichapuram, the Bahuda River has become particularly treacherous due to the opening of dam gates in Odisha, resulting in an unexpected rise in water levels throughout Srikakulam.
National Highway 16 has been completely inundated due to the heavy rainfall and flooding from the Bahuda River, halting all traffic on this major route. Authorities have issued a third flood warning for the Bahuda River, as several villages in the area have lost connectivity. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations, addressing the extensive damage to agriculture.
In the Sompeta Mandal, railway tracks in Tallabhadra have also been submerged, disrupting train services. Similarly, tracks in Jadupudi of the Kanchili Mandal are underwater, affecting train operations in Srikakulam district. The South Coast Railway has canceled or rerouted several trains due to the flooding.
The heavy rains began after Cyclone Arnab made landfall early Wednesday, transforming roads in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh into virtual ponds. After landfall, the cyclone weakened into a low-pressure area.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a low-pressure system was located over southern Chhattisgarh and adjacent southern Odisha as of 8:30 AM. This system is expected to continue moving northward and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area by the evening of October 29.
Over the past 24 hours, extensive rainfall has been reported across northern Andhra Pradesh, northeastern Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal, with some areas experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall. Parts of northern Odisha have also seen significant rainfall, along with heavy precipitation in northeastern Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and certain areas of Gangetic West Bengal.
