Heavy rain lashes Visakhapatnam: Waterlogging, landslips, wall collapses; 30 families shifted

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rain in Visakhapatnam, inundating several parts of the city and disrupting normal life. The semi-urban areas of Gajuwaka and Madhurawada were among the worst affected.

The city received moderate rain through Wednesday, but the intensity picked up from the evening of September 23 and continued until early Thursday. The rain eased later on Thursday, though intermittent drizzle persisted. According to officials, the district recorded an average rainfall of 202.8 mm between 8 am on September 23 and 8 am on September 24. Between 8 am and 6 pm on Thursday, the average was only 14.7 mm.

Rainwater flowing down from geddas (streams), drains, and hill slopes flooded roads and entered homes in several low-lying areas, leaving residents struggling. Several colonies in Jaggayyapalem, near Sheela Nagar Junction, were submerged, affecting families and apartment complexes.

“We are frightened that snakes or other insects may enter our houses. A drainage is overflowing, and we have asked children to stay indoors and not to go onto the roads,” said Ram Naidu, a resident of Arilova.

A major gedda overflowed onto the road between Sheela Nagar and Tunglam, disrupting traffic between Kurmannapalem, Duvvada and Sheela Nagar. In Pedagantyada, several houses in HB Colony were flooded in the early hours, though residents said the water began receding by morning. The road linking Gangavaram and Pedagantyada was also waterlogged, but the situation gradually improved.

Heavy waterlogging was also reported on the Sagar Nagar–Rushikonda stretch. On Port Road, commuters struggled with a combination of waterlogged stretches and potholes. 

Walls collapse

Strong currents from overflowing geddas damaged boundary walls at several locations. The boundary wall of the Racon Towers apartment complex at Kommadi collapsed after water surged from a nearby gedda. Officials of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) responded and evacuated residents to a safer location. Another boundary wall was damaged at Madhurawada, while one was brought down at Yeduruvanipalem village in Mulagada mandal.

Landslips

A landslip at the Sitakonda Viewpoint on Beach Road left rocks strewn across the road, disrupting traffic. About 30 families were shifted to safer places after landslips were reported on hillocks at Kailasapuram and Hanumanthawaka. At MR Peta, more than 16 flats were vacated as a precaution after a landslide damaged the compound wall.

Other incidents

At One Town, an autorickshaw driver was injured when an electricity pole fell on him. The Indira Priyadarshini Municipal Stadium was also inundated. In Gajuwaka, a 29-year-old man was rescued after the car he was driving fell into a canal at Kanithi.

Officials said 71 trees were uprooted across the city, while around 5.5 km of GVMC roads were damaged. MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao visited several inundated colonies and assured residents that the authorities would provide the necessary assistance.