Vijayawada: A bridge across the river Papagni collapsed, a railway track was washed away between Nellore-Padugupadu stations and the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway-16 was badly damaged due to flash floods in Papagni and Penna rivers in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.
A railway track between Nellore-Padugupadu stations on the Chennai-Vijayawada section was badly damaged. The railway authorities cancelled train services on the route. Two of the three railway tracks were hanging as the bunds under the track were washed away.
A bridge across the Papagni river near Kamalapuram town in Kadapa district collapsed for about 50 meters. The bridge caved in due to flash flood in the river. The bridge constructed about 44 years ago, officials told the media.
The vehicular traffic on Tadipatri-Kadapa was diverted through another route. About 50 meters of road at Rajupalem in Kadapa district was also badly damaged forcing authorities to divert traffic.
Railway passengers alleged that they were left in the middle of the journey and they were walking several kilometres to reach a nearby town. In Kadapa over 900 passengers were stranded in the railway station as the railway officials cancelled train services abruptly following breaches to railway tracks at various places.
The Tungabadrha, Penna, Sunkesula and the Somasila rivers are in spate with heavy inflows.
Meanwhile, the flood victims are facing an ordeal as they had lost everything due to flash flood in Cheyyur rivulet of Kheda District.
Talking to the media, G Kondaiah a farmer of Nilipalli which is one of the villages which bore the brunt said that they had lost their Aadhar cards, ration cards and all property as they left their homes to save lives.
Many houses in the village either fully collapsed or partially. Neck deep water suddenly gushed into our villages, he said.
“No official has visited our village so far. Neither food nor water offered to us. We are starving in the village. All livestock and property washed away in the flash flood” Kondaiah lamented, adding that some voluntary organisations were providing them with some food and water.
Same is the situation at Thogurupet village in Rajupalem Mandal. The village tasted the fury of the Cheyyuru flood. Collapsed houses, uprooted trees and electrical poles were seen at the village which stood testimony to the fury of nature.
The National Highway-16 was badly damaged near Kovur in Nellore district due to flood in Penna river.
The Chennai-Kolkata road was damaged by about 200 meters. The vehicular traffic on busy Vijayawada-Nellore was disrupted. Vehicles were stranded about 5 KMs on either side of the road.
The police stopped the vehicles on the Tirupati-Srikalahasti highway at Thottambedu check post and diverted the traffic via Kadapa, Pamuru and Darsi.
The Andhra Pradesh government confirmed 24 deaths due to incessant rains and floods in four districts of the state.
An official release last night said that 17 people were still missing. The rains and floods badly affected 172 mandals in 4 districts --Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Anantapur.
The rains and floods damaged paddy crops in 23,345 hectares and horticulture crops in 19,644 hectares.
The state government had announced Rs 7 crore as immediate assistance to the four affected districts.
The government announced Rs 2,000 financial assistance to those who were taking shelter in the relief camps. (UNI)
