25 more villages inundated in Andhra

A 50-feet breach caused to the river embankment at Oleru near Penumudi in Guntur district has become a major cause for concern as the flood water gushing through it has left more than 25 villages inundated in Repalle and Bhattiprolu in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

Repalle town too is likely to get marooned by late night because of the heavy flood, according to state Minister for Law and Technical Education Mopidevi Venkata Ramana.

"The breach started occurring around 1 am and gradually widened causing widespread inundation. We have requested Reliance Industries Limited to send some of its engineers and men to help fill the breach," Ramana said over the phone from Repalle.

Ramana, who is the local Member of Legislative Assembly, said there was no danger to human lives as the affected villagers have already been shifted to a safer place.

"There are still a few people who are reluctant to move out but we are persuading them to shift to relief camps immediately given the worsening situation," he said.

The minister, along with local municipal councilors, has been advising people to move to safer place as the flood water is likely to maroon the place for two-three days.