New Delhi: At least 19 people have died, and over 17,000 have been evacuated from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as incessant rain continues to batter, leading to widespread flooding.
Around 140 trains have been cancelled, and many have been diverted. Of the 19 victims, nine were from Andhra Pradesh while Telangana reported 10 fatalities.
Three more people are feared to have been washed away in the floodwaters in Andhra, while one person is missing in Telangana.
According to local authorties, over 17,000 people have been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh as national and state disaster relief teams continue rescue operations.
In Vijayawada alone, which experienced severe flooding, over 2.76 lakh people have been affected. The South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 140 trains and diverted 97, leaving nearly 6,000 passengers stranded at various stations.
A railway track was damaged in Telangana as floodwaters washed away the gravel under it. Twenty-six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed for flood relief and rescue operations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The torrential rains began on Saturday, fueled by a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal. “Very heavy rainfall is expected over coastal Andhra Pradesh from September 2 to 5. Heavy rainfall is also expected to continue over Telangana on Monday, the IMD said.
Heavy rain caused by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has been pounding the two states since Saturday night.
