Floods cripple life in Mahabubnagar, Kurnool

Mahabubnagar/Kurnool, Oct 1 :

 The incessant rains and Floods caused due to depression in Bay of Bengal have inundated dozens of villages and damaged standing crops in the Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts. The district authorities have been put on alert in view of the forecast of more rains over the next two days due to low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.

An active southwest monsoon coupled with low pressure off the coast caused widespread rains in the state for the third day Thursday, throwing normal life out of gear, disrupting transport, electricity and communication.

More than 50 villages have been inundated-- 21 in Mahabubnagar 29 in Kurnool districts, cutting off road links to several towns and villages. The Floods severely damaged paddy, cotton and ground crops in thousands of acres. About 560 houses were damaged due to Floods in Mahabubnagar district, the collector Damayanthi said.

Several rivulets, streams, tanks and canals are overflowing due to incessant rains in Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts. Huge inflows in Tungabhadra and Handri rivers due to rains in catchment areas in upstream Karnataka have added to the woes of people living in villages along the banks. Dozens of habitations in Kurnool town and in Mahabubnagar district are under knee-deep water. Krishna river, one of the two major rivers that flow through the state, is receiving floodwater from Karnataka and the crest gates of some dams across the river have been opened to let the water downstream.

Mahabubnagar District Collector Damayanthi said that 568 tanks in districts were breached due to heavy rains, inundating dozens of villages. Officials said heavy rains have affected more than 4,000 families in 48 villages. The authorities have evacuated 12,000 families from low-lying areas and shifted them to relief camps. The government has set up four rehabilitation centres at Gadwal and 21 rehabilitation centres in Kurnool district. The Kurnool collector has sounded red alert following heavy rains and Floods in the district.