VIJAYAWADA: A house in the Sunnapu Battilu area under Machavaram police jurisdiction collapsed early on Saturday, resulting in one death and six injuries. The collapse was triggered by heavy rains from Friday evening, which led to a minor landslide and caused a boulder to fall onto the house.
The deceased has been identified as Navudu Meghana. The six injured individuals, who belong to two different families, were rescued and taken to a nearby government hospital.
In response, Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Ramamohan, Collector G. Srijana, and Machavaram Inspector Guru Prakash visited the site. They ordered the evacuation of thatched and old houses near the hills and advised residents in Gunadala, Moghalrajpuram, Bhavanipuram, and other hilly areas to avoid staying in poorly maintained houses due to the forecasted heavy rains.
Authorities from Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMSD) have temporarily closed the ghat road as a precautionary measure.
The heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding in Vijayawada and surrounding areas. Many low-lying regions are submerged, and streets and roads throughout the city are resembling canals, with water levels reaching calf height. National highways passing through the city are also affected, leading to severe traffic congestion at Benz Circle and Ramavarapadu.
The flooding has disrupted daily life, resulting in the closure of schools in Vijayawada and other parts of the state. Residents living near the Krishna River have been placed on high alert.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is currently assessing the rain and flood situation and has instructed officials to implement all necessary precautionary measures to mitigate further issues.