Floods and landslides claim 9 lives in Andhra Pradesh amid record rainfall, India

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has been producing torrential rains across Andhra Pradesh since August 30, 2024, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed at least 9 lives. The districts of Guntur and Krishna were hit hardest, receiving over 200 mm (7.8 inches) of rain within just 12 hours.

Heavy rains caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal have been battering Andhra Pradesh since Friday, August 30, 2024, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed at least 9 lives so far. Several regions in the state, especially the districts of Guntur and Krishna, experienced over 200 mm (7.8 inches) of rain within 12 hours.

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) issued flash alerts to residents across the state on their mobile phones on Saturday, August 31, due to heavy rains. The sudden flood of alert messages caused panic among residents, particularly in areas expecting severe rainfall.

Vijayawada experienced severe flooding after approximately 170 mm (6.7 inches) of rain fell, leading to waterlogging in low-lying areas on Saturday. Mangalagiri in Guntur district recorded 280 mm (11 inches) of rainfall, causing significant disruption.

A boulder crashed into a house in the Sunnappubattila Centre in Vijayawada, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuring three others. In Uppalapadu, Guntur district, a teacher and two students were swept away by floodwaters along with their car. In Gandallayapeta, Mangalagiri district, a woman was killed by another landslide.

K. Praneeth, a weather expert in Andhra Pradesh, reported that the eastern side of Vijayawada city recorded 161 mm (6.3 inches) of rainfall at Benz Circle and 123 mm (4.8 inches) at the airport within 24 hours—the highest precipitation recorded in August in the last 200 years.

The government advised people to stay indoors for 24 hours due to heavy waterlogging across several regions. Several roads and national highways were inundated, and the Vijayawada bus stand went underwater for the first time.

Several vehicles were stranded on highways and roads due to overflowing streams, rivulets, and irrigation channels. The landslides caused significant damage, with boulders crushing houses and damaging a temple’s ticket counter in Vijayawada.

The Budameru River, swollen by an inflow of 16 000 cusecs of water, poses a significant threat to several regions in Vijayawada. Officials have issued high alerts and warnings for several areas and have made arrangements to evacuate people to safer locations.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on Sunday, September 1 in several regions. Vijayawada has set up shelters for people living in landslide-prone areas.

The IMD has issued several significant weather disturbance warnings for Hyderabad and parts of Telangana. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has issued an advisory urging residents to exercise extreme caution.

References:

¹ 9 killed as record rain lashes Andhra Pradesh, floods roads & triggers landslide – TOI – September 1, 2024

² Heaviest rainfall in 200 years leaves eight dead in Andhra Pradesh – DH – August 31, 2024

³ APSDMA issues flash alerts to warn people of rain, flooding across AP – TOI – September 1, 2024

Featured image credit: Uma Sudhir (stillshot)

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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