Torrential rains that lashed Prakasam district have so far claimed the lives of five students and cut off road transport to several villages in the divisions of Ongole and Markapur divisions.
A II-year intermediate student, K. Konda Reddy (18) was washed away in flash floods in Kopulavaripalem village in Nagulapupadu mandal on Thursday, District Revenue Officer G. Gangadhar Goud said.
Bodies fished out
Meanwhile, Kumarole police fished out the bodies of three students, K Perambi (16), S. Serambi (16) and B. Srinivasulu (19) who were washed away in flash floods, while a girl P. Jayalakshmi (13) was drowned in the rivulet near Pongalaveedu village in Giddalur mandal.
Road transport to over 100 villages in the district were cut off as several rivulets carried flash floods in the wake of incessant rains in the last 24 hours, he said.
Preliminary estimates
Agriculture Joint Director S. Dorasani said according to preliminary estimates crops in 39,115 hectares were damaged.
Worst-hit
Cotton crop was the worst-hit accounting for 25,307 hectares in the mandals of Giddalur, Markapur and Parchur.
Paddy in 5390 hectares was damaged mainly in the mandals of Chirala and Addanki, the Joint Director said.
“The crop loss will increase further if there are any further rains,” she said, adding other crops damaged included redgram (2837 ha), blackgram(1548 ha), maize(1460 ha) and pearl millet(1130 Ha).
Published - October 25, 2013 12:43 pm IST
