At least 12 people have been killed and many more are reported as missing as heavy rains wreaked havoc in three Rayalaseema districts and one south coastal district in Andhra Pradesh.
12 people were killed and 18 others went missing after three buses of Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were stuck in floods triggered by heavy rains in Kadapa district.
The buses were stuck in flood waters in Mandpalle, Akepadu and Nandaluru villages. The passengers along with drivers and conductors had climbed on the top of the buses. While some were rescued by the local residents, 30 people were feared washed away.
Three bodies were recovered from an RTC bus near Nandaluru. Seven bodies were found in Gundluru while three bodies were pulled from Rayavaram areas.
In neighbouring Anantapuramu district, 10 people stranded in the Chitravati river flood at Veldurthi village were rescued by the Indian Air Force personnel, who specially flew in from Yelahanka Air Force Station in Karnataka.
The IAF team carried out a winching operation using a Mi-17 helicopter to rescue the ten people, who were stuck in a JCB.
The JCB had earlier in the afternoon gone to rescue four people in a car caught in the Chitravati flood but, as the flood turned menacing, six of those in it and the four car passengers got stuck.
The Anantapuramu district administration sent an SOS to the IAF, following which the rescue operation was carried out successfully.
SDRF, police and Fire Services personnel rescued tens of people from flood-hit places in Kadapa and Chittoor districts.
In Kadapa district, 33 relief camps have been opened and 1,200 persons were lodged in them.
According to some local media reports, as many as 100 people could be missing in various rain-related mishaps.
The full extend of the damage caused by the heavy downpours and flash floods will only be revealed in the coming days as many parts of the state are still cut off from the rest.
In many places, roads turned into canals and swept vehicles away.
Though the Tirupati International Airport at Renigunta was re-opened for flight operations on Friday, the two ghat roads to Tirumala Hills remained shut.
The stairway leading to Tirumala from Alipiri suffered heavy damage due to landslips and flooding, shutting it down for pilgrims who normally trek the Hills.
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