Rain causes mayhem in Karnataka, Maharashtra
Pti, Hyderabad
Torrential rains lashed Karnataka and Maharashtra yesterday, throwing rail and air traffic out of gear but the situation improved in worst-hit Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, even as the death toll in these states mounted to 117.Several coastal and low-lying villages in Andhra Pradesh were cut off from the rest of the state, leaving many persons marooned. Seventy army personnel joined civil authorities in rescuing people from badly-affected Kurnool district where 85,000 people have been evacuated and kept in 51 relief camps. Hundreds of families in Kerala continued to be in relief camps with many coastal areas still remaining vulnerable to swirling floods. The death toll in the heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh has been put at 37 after 13 persons, who were presumed dead after being washed away in Kundu river near Kurnool, were found alive on Saturday. Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy undertook an aerial survey of the worst-affected Kurnool district in Rayalaseema region where several villages remained cut-off. The relief operations were in full swing as the situation showed improvement in Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari districts in the coastal belt, officials said. Kurnool district bore the brunt of flash floods accounting for 9 deaths followed by Guntur (5), Prakasam (4), three each in Kadpa, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar and Hyderabad. The remaining deaths were reported from Srikakulam and East Godavari. Intermittent rains continued in Kurnool and Mahboobnagar districts but flood waters receded in many areas after a lull in downpour. Heavy rains also lashed Mumbai and its suburbs for the second day on Sunday, leading to water-logging in various low-lying areas and disrupting traffic. Road, rail and air services were affected due to the first heavy rainfall of this season. Three persons were injured in Chembur area after a wall collapsed following heavy rains. Warnings have been issued to fishermen not to venture into the sea along the Maharashtra and Goa coast. Ports have also been told to remain alert and take necessary precaution. So far eleven people have been killed in rain-related incidents in the state. The rain fury in Karnataka continued with six more persons dying, to take the toll in rain-related incidents in the state to 39.
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