14 killed, crops damaged in rains

HYDERABAD: Fourteen persons died and crop in 4,787 hectares was damaged due to the heavy rain that lashed the state for the last four days.Despite the incessant rain lashing the state, Andhra Pradesh received four per cent less rainfall than the normal rainfall.It has received 44.45 cm rainfall against the normal of 46.3 cm from July 1 to August 28 this year.For the corresponding period, the state had received 58.73 cm with an excess rainfall of 27 per cent during last year.However, the officials were expecting more rains in the next few days.Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday directed chief secretary SV Prasad and other senior officials to constantly monitor the situation following heavy rains reported from different parts of the state.He wanted them to be alert and be prepared to tackle any eventuality.The district collectors of coastal Andhra were instructed to keep a close watch and take all precautionary and preventive measures in coordination with the commissioner of disaster management department.Senior IAS officers would visit the affected districts shortly and review the situation.Arrangements were being made to evacuate people from low-lying areas if necessary.While medical and health department officials have been asked to keep sufficient quantities of essential medicines and 108/104 medical ambulance services ready to meet any eventualities, the electricity department is instructed to take special care to monitor the power situation to avoid human loss due to short circuit and similar dangers.A state-level control room has been set up at the disaster management office in Hyderabad (040-23456005; 1070; 23451043) for constant monitoring of the situation.While municipal administration and urban development department has been asked to ensure that water is pumped out from water-logged areas, roads and buildings and panchayat raj departments were asked to keep a vigil on the roads, bridges and culverts in vulnerable areas.