In Andhra Pradesh, normal life has been hit due to incessant rain lashing most parts of the state. It is raining under the influence of the low pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal and the vigorous North East monsoon. Dozens of towns and cities are waterlogged and thousands of villages marooned. Several rivers and rivulets are in spate and streams are flowing above danger levels. Especially coastal districts are receiving heavy downpour. The state Administration has geared up for relief operations with control rooms set up at district levels and also in Hyderabad. District collectors have been directed to open relief camps and evacuate people from low lying areas. So far 6,300 people have been shifted to 19 relief camps set up in Visakhapatnam and Prakasam districts. Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force each have been sent to Srikakulam and Prakasam districts with all rescue material. Guntur District administration has announced holidays for educational institutions due to heavy rain. Disaster management officials told our correspondent, that a total of 9 persons died due to rain-related incidents in the state. 4 persons were washed away in Prakasam district while two died in Guntur and three persons were killed in a wall collapse incident in Hyderabad . Over 200 houses were damaged. Preliminary reports say that crops in over one lakh 50 thousand hectares especially paddy and cotton are inundated.

Meanwhile, the South Central Railways has diverted over a dozen express trains following water flowing over tracks between Ichapur and Jhadupudi on the Eastern Railways section in Srikakulam District. These long distance trains to Howrah will now run via Nagpur. South Central Railways has set up help lines at major stations including Vijayawada , Rajahmundry , Ongole and Nellore to disseminate information about passenger trains. The Helpline numbers are as follows:
Vijayawada : 0866-2575038, 2767075
Rajahmundry: 0883-2420780, 2420541
Ongole: 08592-280203, 280204
Nellore: 0861-2345863, 2345864