Tirupati: Unabated heavy rains for the past one week in the district killed 11 pe-rsons including childr-en and damaged crops in over 4,000 hectares. Many reservoirs were full to the brim and all the reservoirs except Kalyani dam, opened gates in view of breaching. As a result of hea-vy down pour, many villages were inundated and road and rail transport was disrupted.
Flash floods claimed over 80 heads of cattle and damaged more th-an 80 houses in the district. The Telugu Ganga canal at Chinakanap-arthi in Thottambedu mandal was breached on Tuesday and crops in many villages were inundated.
Storm water entered over 30 villages and its houses. A cause way was eroded in between China Ramapuram and Bheemavaram in Chan-dragri mandal and wa-ter was over flowing in Swarnamukhi River.
Rivulets including Ga-juleru in Yerravari Pal-em were flowing with heavy force. The village tank was breached at Chinnagottigallu resul-ting in crop damage.
Kalyanidam received flood waters up to 85 feet. Karakambadi, Ma-manduru and other are-as in Renigunta mandal were inundated.
The biggest village tank in the district Th-odamanadu Cheruvu in Srikalahasti mandal was overflowing with gushing water and the fields in Kapugunneri were inundated as the Cherlopalli Cheruvu is overflowing. Kalangi reservoir gate was completely damaged by the pressure of the stored water and NTR Jala-sayam and other reservoir gates were opened due to water being full to the brim. Irrigation officials are taking ste-ps to restore the breac-hed bunds of the tanks.
“We have been taking steps to repair all the breached bunds with the help of local villagers and we will repair the broken gate of Kalangi reservoir near Varadaiah Palem. We have already sounded high alert in the district and warned the people not to come near the water flowing areas and village tanks,” said irrigation superintendent engineer, Ramak-rishna.According to off-icial estimates, crops were damaged in 4,000 hectares, and the Min-ister for Agriculture, Patthi Pulla Rao assured farmers help.
About 3,000 out of 8,000 tanks were breac-hed and crops damaged including paddy, tomato, ground nut, red gr-am, banana among others. “We are getting re-ports from the conce-rned department to ass-ess the damaged crop value,” said district collector Siddarth Jain.
The Srivari Mettu foot path and second ghat road to Tirumala were damaged due to landslides. Boulders fell on the road causing cave ins. TTD officials have taken up restoration.
Railway tracks were damaged at many places including Kadapa line and Gudur line. The passengers who came here from other districts and states to have darshan of the Lord were facing a lot of hard ships due to cancellation of many trains from Tirupati via Renigunta.
Many trains were halted at Renigunta railway station causing increase of traffic and congestion in the station. More than 22 trains were which will start from Tirupati to many places including Narsapur Express, Sabari, Mannargudi, Kolhapur, Rayalaseema and Bilaspur.
“It will take two to three days to restore the damaged lines in both Kadapa and Gudur lines,” said station manager Gangulappa.
Movement of RTC buses were also disrupted including those intended for long distance areas and buses are not operating to many places inside the district also as the rivulets and rivers have been overflowing at many places.
Officials told to improve sanitation
Collector Sujatha Sharma instructed the officials to improve sanitation in the rural areas following heavy rains during the last two days. He instructed to revive power supply where it was disru-pted due to heavy rains.
The collector reviewed the situation with the revenue officials and special officers from Ongole city on Wednesday.
The collector instructed the revenue officials to submit a detailed report on property losses caused by heavy rains in the district im-mediately to distribute compensation. She instructed to fill all the tanks with Nagarjunasagar water.
The collector instructed the officials take steps to distribute rice, sugar, red gram and oil to the rain affected families as per latest G.O. No:8.
Many areas still in knee deep water
Many areas in Tirupati are still in knee deep water as the rain lashed the town since evening which gave respite to the people from morning. In the morning, the rain stopped giving a major relief to denizens of Tirupati.
However, the rain started since evening with heavy downpour for more than five hours. All the streets were filled with water and vehicular movement came to standstill as all the areas are inundated with flood waters.
All the streets were overflowed with floods waters even pedestrians could not walk on the streets. Voluntary organisations including RUSH hospital trust have supplied food packets to victims.
Railway GM inspects repair works
Railway General Manager Ravind-ranath Gupta inspected the repair works at Vendodu railway station near Venkatagiri on Wednesday.
He personally attended to complete the works on speedy manner and instructed men to fasten the works where the railway track was washed away in the floods.
He has been staying here for three days to inspect the damaged track works only.
Speaking to media at Tiruapti railway station, the General Manager said that the works on damaged tracks will be completed in two to three days and the running of trains will be restored soon. He said all trains in this section are running behind schedule.
