Top storyTemperatures have risen again in Vizianagaram district after Cyclone Arnab, with 36 to 38 degrees recorded across the district. Heat is intense from 8 am to 4 pm, causing difficulty for residents, and main junctions and roads turn deserted at midday. Agricultural labourers are working only from 7 am to 11 am. With no rain since the cyclone and a major breach in the Thotapalli left main canal at Oni village, tail-end farmers are not receiving irrigation water.
Heavy rain lashed Bhimavaram in West Godavari district from the early hours of Monday. Several parts of the town were inundated as a result. Rainwater collected on main roads, leaving motorists struggling. The premises in front of the local railway station resembled a canal, causing difficulties for passengers arriving at the station. Normal life in the town was disrupted by the downpour. No official rainfall or damage details are available.
Vikarabad district has recorded 474.4 mm of rainfall as on October 4 against a normal of 671.6 mm for the period, a shortfall of 197.2 mm. The district average deficit stands at 29 percent. Of 20 mandals, 15 are in deficit and four recorded normal rainfall. Bantwaram has a 55 percent deficit and Peddemul 53 percent. Bomraspet alone received 658.9 mm against a normal of 522.8 mm, 26 percent excess. No mandal recorded rain on October 4. Farmers are anxious.
The weather department and the HYDRAA commissioner have warned of extremely heavy rain in Hyderabad from August 13 (Wednesday) to August 15 (Friday). North Hyderabad, Medchal district and Cyberabad may get 10-15 cm of rain, with up to 20 cm in some places. The commissioner asked the government to declare a school holiday on Wednesday and allow work from home for IT employees. Helplines: 040 29560521, 9000113667, 9154170992. CM Revanth Reddy directed officials to stay alert.
Four farmers died and six were seriously injured in two separate wall-collapse incidents in Kotthuru and Gampalapalli villages of Lakshettipet mandal, Mancherial district, after heavy rain and squally winds on Tuesday night. Those killed while covering paddy with tarpaulins were father and son Thanugula Nagaraju and Abhiram, Gundarapu Venkatesh of Kotthuru and Nelka Lachanna of Muthyampet. Four injured were shifted to Karimnagar. BRS general secretary Jeevan Reddy and former MLA Diwakar Rao visited the affected families.
Police rescued six people stranded in floodwaters at the Gundlakamma drinking water scheme in Addanki, Prakasam district. Three employees were stranded first, and three who went by boat to help were also stranded when the boat capsized. All climbed a tree and were located by drone. Relief work was intensified on Minister Gottipati's orders. Collector Rajababu and MLA B.N. Vijay Kumar inspected the reservoir, where 11 gates were opened to release floodwater downstream.
A mild earthquake was felt in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district at 2:30 am on Saturday. Officials said the tremor measured 3.8 on the Richter scale. Shaking was reported in Kothagudem, Palvancha, Burgampadu and Bhadrachalam. The tremors were recorded 111 km northwest of the Rajamahendravaram area. As the quake struck at midnight, most residents did not notice it. Given the risk of such tremors along the Godavari banks, people remain anxious.
Adilabad district recorded a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius on Friday, after a week of readings above 39 degrees. Talamadugu and Bhoraj logged 40.8 degrees, Satnala 40.5, Jainath 40.4, Adilabad Urban and Bela 40.1, Ichoda and Mavala 39.2, and Bheempur 38.7. Weather department officials said the impact of the heat would increase further. Roads turn deserted in the afternoon. Officials and doctors advised precautions against heatstroke.
The Godavari water level at Bhadrachalam was recorded at 42.80 feet at 8 pm on Sunday, close to the first warning level of 43 feet. The level rose from 36.60 feet at 1 am. About 9.22 lakh cusecs is being released downstream. Six spillway gates of the Taliperu project were opened. Crops were damaged in Kasinagaram and Pragallapalli villages of Dummugudem mandal. Officials said the level would remain steady as upstream rain eased.
The Godavari water level at Bhadrachalam is rising steadily due to floodwaters coming from upstream. The flow, which stood at 17 feet two days earlier, crossed 40 feet by Sunday morning. Many steps at the bathing ghats have been submerged as a result. Officials are set to issue the first flood warning if the water level reaches 43 feet.
Flood inflow is continuing into the Baga Reddy Singur project in Pulkal mandal of Sangareddy district. Rain around Zaheerabad, Manoor and Jharasangam brought 2 TMC in three days and another three TMC may arrive, project AE Mahipal Reddy said. Against a capacity of 29.917 TMC, storage stands at 18.903 TMC, with inflow of 22,036 cusecs and outflow of 391 cusecs. Visitors are barred. A canal breached at Isojipet will be repaired in four days, AE Mahesh said.
Continuous heavy rain is falling across NTR district under the influence of a Bay of Bengal depression, with downpours in Nandigama, Jaggayyapeta, Kanchikacherla and Mylavaram. At Nunna near Vijayawada, the overflowing Pedavagu swept away a car; locals rescued cooperative society president and TDP village president Srinivasa Reddy and his wife. Irrigation AE Venkatesh said there is no danger at Kavuluru bridge and 5,000 cusecs is being released from Pattiseema into the Krishna. An anganwadi school at Shantinagar was submerged.
Kakinada district recorded an average 117.6 mm of rainfall in two days under the influence of a deep depression, District Collector Harendra Prasad said. Preliminary estimates put crop damage at 1,885 hectares, and trees fell on roads at 15 locations. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, reviewing the situation by phone, directed officials to stay alert on low-lying areas, reservoirs and fishermen's safety, with heavy rain likely for two more days. A 24-hour control room is functioning.
AccuWeather reported a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius at Chitturu in Andhra Pradesh at 9:58 PM, with a RealFeel of 33 degrees and cloudy skies. Winds were from the west-southwest at 13 km/h, with gusts of 26 km/h. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Saturday evening. Saturday's high is 34 degrees and low 26, while Sunday is expected to reach 35 and 25 degrees. Rain probability ranges from 55 to 61 per cent between Monday and October 4. Air quality was rated best.
Heavy rain under the influence of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has left the Suddagadda stream flowing in spate at Gollaprolu in Kakinada district, submerging several areas and crop fields. Farmers said standing crops are under water and there is a risk of losses. Residents fear the inundation could worsen if the rain continues. Farmers have asked officials to inspect the flooded areas, assess crop loss and provide relief.
