Rain kills 9 in Andhra; Hyderabad on edge

After few days of relative lull, heavy rain lashed some parts of the country claiming nine lives in Andhra Pradesh, throwing life out of gear in some Telangana cities and also troubling Mumbaikars.

Andhra Pradesh reported four fresh rain-related deaths on Friday which took the toll to nine - six in Guntur district, three in Visakhapatnam. The K L Rao Sagar reservoir in the state is almost filled due to copious showers in Guntur and the upper catchment areas of the Krishna river. While it’s full level capacity is 45.77 tmc ft, it is now holding 30 tmc ft of water.

As much as 1.51 lakh cusecs of flood water is being discharged from K L Rao Sagar reservoir which is reaching Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on Krishna. The Barrage is overflowing as close to 2 lakh cusecs of water flowing in. This is the first time in over five years that the Barrage has witnessed such massive inflow. Train services between Guntur and Secunderabad remained suspended for the second consecutive day as over two km tracks near Sattenapalli was washed away due to overflowing rivulets.

Meanwhile, the national capital had a sultry day on Friday with mercury settling two notches above normalmaximum 36 and and minimum 27 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity oscillated between 73 and 91 per cent. Incessant rains continued to batter Hyderabad for the third day, prompting the Telangana government to ask IT companies there to allow their employees work from home as it sought Army's help in rescue operation in some areas. The state government declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area on Friday and Saturday. "They (Army) have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them," an official said.-PTI