Andhra Pradesh rains :At least 17 dead, many missing

In Andhra Pradesh, at least 17 peolple have died and many washed away in floods following incessant rains. Swollen rivers and rivulets caused a huge deluge in three Rayalaseema districts, cutting off roads at some places and throwing life out of gear. In many places, roads turned into canals and swept vehicles away. As per information, in temple town Tirupati hundreds of pilgrims trapped in massive floods. Ghat road and walkways to Tirumala Hills that houses the temple have been closed. The Swarnamukhi river on the outskirts of Tirupati is flooded and the reservoirs are overflowing. Many people have been reported to be stuck in the floods. Three state transport buses have been marooned. The Rayalaseema region is worst affected. Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantpur districts in the state have been affected.Three buses of Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were stuck in floods triggered by heavy rains in Kadapa district on Friday,

National and state disaster relief teams have been deployed to handle the situation and rescue operations are in full swing. The floods have damaged the roads at many places and rail, road and air traffic have been hit. Kadapa airport will remain closed till November 25. Rains have not stopped since Thursday and the Cheyyuru river is overflowing. The Annamayya irrigation project has also been hit. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy spoke with Collectors of the flood-hit districts and asked them to step up rescue and relief measures. He will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts on Saturday, the CMO said in a release.