Andhra continues to reel under floods as death toll rises to 58

Floods caused by heavy rains for days continued to disrupt normal life in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, as the death toll due to floods reached 58.

Srikakulam/Visakhapatnam, Sept 23 : Floods caused by heavy rains for days continued to disrupt normal life in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, as the death toll due to floods reached 58.

The worst hit areas are Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts, which received heavy to very heavy rains under the influence of low pressure area early this week.

Standing crops on over five hundred acres of land and 15 thousand houses have been damaged due to heavy rains in the state, while over 40, 000 families are said to be affected.

Most of the rivers in the state are flowing above danger mark, although the officials said steps have been taken to prevent the river water from entering the nearby areas.

"The government has taken various steps to avoid floods. Banks have been built on both sides of the river and tenders are being issued to construct flood banks," said G.Prasad Rao, Chief Engineer, North Andhra, Irrigation Project.

Meanwhile, the state meteorological department predicted more rains in next 24 hours in various parts of the state.

"Rainfall will continue in many places in next 24 hours, in three places heavy (rain) likely to continue. Strong winds on westerly direction, speed ranging 45 to 55 kilometres per hour, are also likely to continue for another 24 hours," said D.Prasad Rao, Meteorological Department, Visakhapatnam.

ANI