In the aftermath of Neelam cyclone which crossed the coast in Tamil Nadu a few days ago, the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh from Srikakulam to Nellore have been experiencing heavy rains for the past three days or so and on Sunday the road and rail traffic was disrupted from Srikakulam to Vijayawada and beyond.
Many trains had to be cancelled or diverted and many were stranded at different railway stations in the coastal disricts, causing great hardship to passengers.
Accoring to official sources, standing crops in more than 2.5 lakh acres in the coastal districts may have been damaged, mainly paddy, but a more accurate assessment can be made only after the floodwaters recede. The casualties due to the rains in different districts are estimated at 15-20.
The NH 5 from Chennai to Kolkata, passing through the coastal districts, was inundated at several places such as Tuni, Annavaram and Rajahmundry, disruptiing the road traffic. The rail track was inundated at Vijayawada, Tuni, Rajahmundry, Samalkot and other places, forcing the railway authorities to cancel the inter-city express trains between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and several passenger trains.
The South Central Railway, based at Secunderabad, and the East Coast Railway, based at Bhubaneswar, diverted many of the long-distance trains or regulated them in view of the position in the coastal districts.
There is extensive damage to paddy crop in the two Godavari districts and Krishna and to various commecial crops such as cotton, chilli, and tobacco grown in Guntur district, it is learnt. However, the loss is yet to be enumerated.
Rice exports from the old port of Kakinada have been badly hit due to the heavy rains and nearly 5 lakh tonnes of rice meant for exports is piling up in the warehouses. According to port officials, 16 ships are waiting at the anchorage.
PTI reports: The South Central Railway has diverted several trains as water was flowing above the danger mark at a railway bridge between Tuni-Gullipadu on Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section.
SCR has cancelled 12 trains, including Ratnachal Express, and partially cancelled another two.
The SCR has diverted several trains and rescheduled some in Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section.
The trains diverted included: 12,513 Secunderabad-Guwahati Express which left Secunderabad at 7.30 a.m. today is diverted to run via Ballarshah, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur.
12253 Yesvantpur-Bhagalpur Express which left Yesvantpur yesterday, 12666 Kanyakumari—Howrah Express which left Kanyakumari yesterday and 12840 Chennai—Howrah Mail which left Chennai yesterday are also diverted via the same route.
22606 Villupuram—Puruli Express which left Villupuram yesterday is now diverted to run via Ballarshah, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Chakradharpur and Chandil.