Life across Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Parvathipuram-Manyam districts in Andhra Pradesh came to a grinding halt on Friday as relentless heavy rains unleashed severe flooding. Major rivers, including Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahendra Tanaya, Gostani, and Jhanjavati, swelled precariously, transforming once-familiar landscapes into raging torrents.
Tragically, the extreme weather claimed its first victims when an elderly couple, Savara Buddhhayya (65) and Rupamma (60), lost their lives. Their home in Savara Tubburu village, Mandasa mandal (Srikakulam district), collapsed in the early hours of Friday under the continuous onslaught of rain.
The region has been battling an unprecedented downpour since Wednesday, leading to massive inflows into rivers from their vast catchment areas in both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The Nagavali river, in particular, burst its banks, sending floodwaters surging into numerous villages and submerging thousands of acres of vital paddy fields and agricultural groves across Vangara, Regidi, and Santhakaviti mandals in Vizianagaram district.
Responding to the escalating crisis, Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy immediately directed officials to prioritize the safety of residents and livestock in the most vulnerable mandals. The Thotapalli barrage on the Nagavali river, situated in Parvathipuram-Manyam district, recorded an alarming inflow of nearly 44,000 cusecs. The subsequent release of water from this barrage further exacerbated flooding in several areas of Srikakulam district. Simultaneously, the Vamsadhara river also experienced a significant surge, compelling irrigation authorities to discharge 1.4 lakh cusecs from the Gotta barrage in the evening after issuing urgent alerts to residents in low-lying zones.
During a video conference with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar assured that despite the heavy river inflows, the situation remained under control. He highlighted the deployment of special teams to restore power in severely affected mandals like Pathapatnam, Burja, Narasannapeta, Amadalavalasa, and Srikakulam. Approximately 9,000 acres of paddy fields have been inundated across the district. During a visit to flood-hit villages in Burja mandal, Mr. Pundkar strongly advised residents to seek shelter in relief centers for the coming days, anticipating further river inflows.
“We are actively collaborating with Odisha officials and implementing essential precautionary measures within our jurisdiction. The situation is presently stable. Relief centers are providing crucial drinking water and food supplies, while dedicated medical teams are on standby, extending their services to all flood-affected areas,” Mr. Pundkar affirmed in a statement to The Hindu.