Andhra Pradesh heavy rains triggered by a deep depression have disrupted road, rail and air travel across several districts, with floodwater inundating low-lying areas, flights diverted and schools closed in parts of Vijayawada. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that rainfall intensity could increase as the system moves towards Odisha.
Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR and Polavaram districts are among the areas receiving intense rainfall. Tanks, streams and canals are overflowing, while rivers are carrying heavy floodwaters, according to the report.
Rajahmundry airport has faced repeated operational disruptions. A Hyderabad-to-Rajahmundry flight was delayed on Thursday, while a FLY91 service scheduled for 1 pm was delayed by an hour. Another flight operated by the same airline reached the area on Wednesday night but could not land because of poor weather. After circling for about three hours, the pilot diverted the aircraft to Bengaluru.
An IndiGo flight from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada was diverted to Shamshabad in Hyderabad, while a Star Air flight from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry was diverted to Bengaluru. Several other flights were cancelled because of the weather. Airport officials have advised passengers to check flight status before travelling to the airport.
Road connectivity has also been affected in East Godavari. Heavy rain flooded low-lying areas and brought down trees on roads. A large tree fell on the Erra Kaluva bridge on the Anaparthi-Polamuru road, severely disrupting traffic. Floodwater from the Erra Kaluva spilled onto roads near Nidadavole, while vehicle movement was halted on the Singavaram-Tallapalem road.
In Rajahmundry, roads around the Hi-Tech Bus Stand Centre and the railway station were submerged. The flooding delayed buses, trains and flights, adding to the disruption for commuters and passengers moving through one of the state’s important transport centres.
Vijayawada in NTR district has recorded continuous rainfall since Wednesday morning, leaving several low-lying areas inundated. Schools in the city declared a holiday for the second consecutive day as the rain continued.
The IMD said the depression made landfall in Kalingapatnam and was likely to enter Odisha near Koraput on Thursday afternoon or evening. It warned that rainfall would continue for the next two days. According to the department, the system was expected to move northwestwards initially while maintaining its intensity for 12 hours, then move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually over the following 24 hours.
The immediate transport response remains focused on weather-related flight decisions, road access and passenger advisories. The IMD’s forecast provides the operational timeframe for continued disruption, while passengers have been asked to verify flight status before setting out.
