Hans News Service
Vijayawada
Vijayawadaand several parts of NTR district received heavy rainfall on Thursday, bringing much-needed relief to people who had been experiencing intense heat for the past several months. The sudden downpour brought the city to a standstill at several places, with roads and low-lying areas inundated by rainwater.
The weather changed around 3.30 pm, with the sky turning dark and gusty winds lashing several areas. Trees were uprooted and fell on roads at some places, causing inconvenience to commuters. Heavy waterlogging was reported at Benz Circle, Mahatma Gandhi Road (Bandar Road), Pinnamaneni Polyclinic Road, One Town, Low Bridge and other low-lying areas. Traffic congestion was particularly heavy at Benz Circle.
The downpour coincided with school hours, leaving students returning home caught in the rain. However, instead of being deterred by the showers, many students were seen enjoying the unexpected rainfall. Some students even danced on Pinnamaneni Polyclinic Road, expressing their joy after enduring intense heat in recent weeks.
According to officials, NTR district recorded 46.40 mm rainfall, with the district average at 2.32 mm. Vijayawada North mandal received 14.80 mm, followed by Ibrahimpatnam (9.5 mm), Vijayawada Central (7.8 mm), G Konduru (6.8 mm) and Mylavaram (4 mm).
VMC Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra inspected waterlogged areas at Pinnamaneni Polyclinic Road, Bandar Road, Benz Circle and Nirmala Convent Road in Vijayawada on Thursday evening following heavy rainfall.
He directed officials to regularly inspect drains, culverts, catch pits and other water-discharge points and immediately remove any blockages to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater. He asked staff to identify vulnerable waterlogging points in advance and remain alert to clear stagnant water immediately after rainfall. Dhyanachandra instructed officials to use Airtech machines to remove water accumulated on roads at the earliest and ensure that vehicular and pedestrian movement was not disrupted. He said monsoon response teams would remain available round the clock during rains to address waterlogging issues.