Some of the coastal districts as well as Rayalaseema districts in Andhra Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall on Thursday due to the depression in the Bay of Bengal, resulting in inundation of several low-lying areas and disruption of road traffic as well as rail traffic in several areas. Guntur was the worst-affected, with two deaths being reported from the district. Several were reported missing, swept away by the swollen streams and rivulets. An AP State Road Transport Corporation bus with 40 passengers was trapped in a swollen stream (Ootukuru) in Krosur mandal of the district. The police and the local people rescued the stranded passengers with great difficulty. Two helicopters were summoned from the Navy to rescue people in the district. East Godavari district also experienced heavy and widespread rains, resulting in breaches to tanks and heavy flooding in many areas. Standing paddy crop and other crops were inundated in many villages in the vicinity of Rajahmundry and the roads were flooded.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here that all steps would be taken to protect people and minimise the loss of life and he urged the public to co-operate with the officials. He said that Guntur, East Godavari and Kurnool received heavy rainfall.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully rescued half a dozen shepherds, who were washed away in swirling waters near Guntur. At several places, rivulets and canals were overflowing.

Krishna floodwaters were let out at the Prakasam barrage here and at Pulichintala reservoir in Guntur district and also the Godavari waters at Dowlaiswaram barrage near Rajahmundry. The authorities alerted the people in the downstream villages to vacate the low-lying areas.

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