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 have been waterlogged and thousands of villages marooned. Several rivers and rivulets are in spate. Coastal districts are receiving heavy downpour.

The state Administration has geared up for carrying out relief operations with control rooms being set up at district level and also in Hyderabad. District collectors have been directed to open relief camps and evacuate people living in low lying areas. So far over 7,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps.8 teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been sent and rescue material is being sent. Disaster management officials told our Correspondent that 9 persons died in rain related incidents. Four persons were washed away in Prakasam district while two died in Guntur and three in wall collapse in Hyderabad . Over 200 houses are damaged. Preliminary reports say that crops in over one lakh 50 thousand hectare especially paddy and cotton have been inundated.

Meanwhile, South Central Railway 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 Railway has set up help lines at major stations including Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Ongole and Nellore to disseminate information about the passenger trains.

The Help Line Numbers are as follows:
Vijayawada : 0866-2575038, 2767075
Rajahmundry: 0883-2420780, 2420541
Ongole: 08592-280203, 280204
Nellore: 0861-2345863, 2345864