Incessant rains kill three people, render 11,000 homeless

GUNTUR: Incessant rains in Guntur district (AP) for the last four days killed three persons, while about 140 sheep were washed away in swirling waters, besides damaging 40 dwellings and rendering 11,000 people homeless, according to district administration sources.

District Collector S Suresh Kumar visited five of the of 36 relief camps in the district where victims have taken shelter and emphasised the need for maintaining sanitation and ensuring clean drinking water.

Speaking to reporters, he revealed that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh would be paid to the next of kin of the deceased.

The district recorded a rainfall of 17129 mm so far in in October (until October 25), as against the normal rainfall of 7434 mm, according to a press note issued by the District Public Relatons Office.