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Villagers in a boat trying to rescue passengers waiting for help on the top of a private bus in Pandluru stream on Monday.

Eleven persons were killed, several tanks breached, hundreds of houses either collapsed or suffered extensive damage, while road and rail networks were damaged as widespread rain disrupted normal life across the district on Monday.

An old person travelling in a mini private bus, a middle-aged person and his young son, in a mini truck, were washed way in Pandluru stream near Naidupet mandal despite valiant efforts by villagers to save them with the help of a country boat. Eight others at different places were also killed.

According to District Collector M. Ravi Chandra, the victims' kin are eligible to receive Rs. 50,000 under Apath Bandhu and an equal amount from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He said that control rooms at all mandals and 63 relief and rehabilitation camps had been set up in 12 most affected mandals. Special officers have been deputed at almost all vulnerable villages and evacuations taken up in most of them.

The Collector said that Naidupet (310 mm), Nellore (300 mm) Kavali (200 mm) and Sullurpet (150 mm) received highest rainfall in the last 24 hours due to depression over South West Bay of Bengal.

According to irrigation department officials, Kanigiri and Sarveypalli reservoirs are filled to the brim and overflowing. "Nellore tank is nearing full storage capacity while around 60 system tanks are filled up. The Kanupur main canal bund near South Mopur village was breached and restoration measures are in progress. Twenty-five gates of Swarnamukhi barrage are opened and about 55,000 cusecs of water is being released through the barrage. In minor irrigation, 90 per cent of 1,763 tanks are full," they said.

About 375 km of road surface is damaged with 32 roads overflowing and traffic disrupted. An area of 4,103 hectares has been inundated in Nellore district, the Collector said.

As many as 180 APSRTC buses are not plying, while water is overflowing on railway tracks at different places in Gudur section. The Manubole - Gudur, Kavali - Tettu and Audugupadu - KJJ sections are the most affected.

The sea will be "rough to very rough" and fishermen have been advised not to venture in there, the Collector added.

Situation grim

The flood situation in the Municipal Corporation of Nellore (MCN) and other areas across the district remained grim due to the incessant rain.

Penna, Swarnamukhi, Kalangi and other rivers as well as streams such as Kaivalya, Pamulavagu, Boggeru, Parasavagu and other streams were in spate. Major reservoirs and dams including Somasila, Sangam and Kandaleru were receiving huge inflows. Several villages in Naidupet, Kavali and other mandals and many parts of MCN such as Bubuja Nellore, Tailors colony, Ayyappa centres, Maganta Layout and other areas were submerged.

Warning

The Meteorology Department officials warned that thundershowers are likely at most places over South-West Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during the next 24 hours.

The district administration has asked people to bring their grievances to the notice of Collector on 98499-04051 and Joint Collector B. Ramaiah on 98499-04052.