VIJAYAWADA: After heavy rains pounded Vijayawada on Saturday, residents woke up to severe flooding on Sunday morning. The deluge affected around 276,000 people across 17 wards, including Sundaraiah Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, and Prakash Nagar, following the breach of the Budameru Rivulet. Many were stranded without power, water, or food.
The death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 15 by Sunday. In Prakasam district, three children drowned, while a man from Gollapudi perished trying to escape an inundated building. A video of his plight went viral earlier in the day. In Ibrahimpatnam, lineman V. Koteswara Rao was swept away while repairing a transformer, and a tractor with ten people overturned in G Kondur, resulting in one fatality and nine rescues.
As floodwaters continued to rise, residents faced additional dangers, including sightings of snakes. Many moved to higher floors for safety. Despite ongoing rescue efforts, the extent of water removal remains uncertain.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited affected areas in Ajit Singh Nagar and Kandrika by boat, assessing the situation and promising all possible assistance. He described the disaster as a "nightmare" and reassured residents that relief efforts are underway.
Authorities are working to address the situation, with six NDRF teams, 40 power boats, and six helicopters being deployed for relief operations. Concerns are also rising over the Prakasam Barrage on the River Krishna, which has released over 9.7 lakh cusecs of water. Alerts have been issued for downstream regions, and efforts are being made to fortify weak flood banks.
In response to the crisis, Naidu announced immediate aid, including 25 kg of rice and other essentials for flood victims, along with an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives. The government is also focusing on strengthening flood defenses and using drones and CCTV for real-time monitoring.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured additional support from the Centre and directed concerned departments to assist the state.