Visakhapatnam, July 27, 2023: Vizag experienced heavy downpour on Wednesday as an active Southwest Monsoon brought a well-marked low pressure area close to the coast. Under the influence of this weather system, the India Meteorological Department issued Orange and Yellow warnings for Alluri Sitama Raju district and a Green warning for Visakhapatnam district until the morning of July 28.
The Visakhapatnam District Education Department took precautionary measures and announced a holiday for all schools in the district on July 27 to ensure the safety and convenience of schoolchildren. The decision came in response to the adverse weather conditions caused by the continuous rain.
Visakhapatnam District Collector A. Mallikarjuna urged residents not to panic and assured that necessary measures were being taken to address the situation. The Collector organized a meeting with relevant authorities to coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas where waterlogging was reported.
Also Read: Rs 13 Crore ITR Fraud Exposed in Vizag and Rajahmundry
Due to the heavy rain, several areas in Visakhapatnam faced waterlogging, leading to traffic jams and difficulties for commuters returning home from offices and businesses. The sudden change in weather from sunny to cloudy around 3 p.m. brought about the heavy rainfall.
Seethammadhara recorded the highest rainfall in the city, measuring 111.25 mm till 9 p.m., followed by Vizag Zoo (102.75 mm) and Gnanapuram (90 mm). Many other areas also received heavy rainfall, with precipitation levels exceeding 65 mm.
Residents in Gnanapuram, Kurupam Market, Poorna Market, Kancharapalem, and other areas were seen wading through waterlogged roads and streets due to overflowing drains and stormwater canals.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) acted swiftly to address minor issues by deploying a five-member rapid response team, including a sanitary inspector, in each ward of the city.
Authorities have assured that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams at Vizag Steel Plant and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are on high alert to respond to emergency calls around the clock.
For the latest news and updates on local affairs, follow us on Twitter at @thevizag_. Don’t miss out! Join our growing community of followers today.