Amaravati sinks, celebrations shift

From Iconic Tower to Flooded Streets – Capital Dreams Drenched in One Day’s Rain

In just one day of rainfall, Amaravati, the state’s capital region,
was submerged. Key zones, including the site of the Iconic Tower, were left
waterlogged. Even the venue for the State’s 79th Independence Day celebrations
had to be shifted from Amaravati to Vijayawada due to flooding.

Capital underwater after a single day’s rain – a recurring crisis

The capital region
has been plagued by flooding year after year. Last August, heavy rains
inundated Amaravati entirely. This time, even a moderate spell brought back
images of submerged villages. Overflowing streams like Kotēlla Vagu, Erra
Vagu, and Pala Vagu disrupted Secretariat access, with nearly 40,000 acres of
crops submerged. Construction of high-value capital buildings has also stalled
repeatedly due to waterlogging, despite crores being spent on drainage.

Independence Day Venue Moved

Initially, the
government planned to host the 79th Independence Day in Amaravati, at the same
location where the P4 and World Environment Day events were held. Chief
Secretary Vijayanand even conducted a review on July 23. But after the rains
left the grounds waterlogged, the venue was moved to Vijayawada’s Indira Gandhi
Stadium.

Mangalagiri in chaos – Minister missing in action

Mangalagiri,
represented by Education Minister Nara Lokesh, has also been thrown into chaos.
Moderate rains have turned colonies such as Ratnala Cheruvu, Sri Narasimhaswamy
Colony, the NRI Circle, and highway stretches into waist-deep water zones,
crippling traffic. Lokesh had promised an underground drainage system last year
— a promise yet to materialize.

Life disrupted for thousands

Key roads such as the Mangalagiri–Nidamarry–Kantheru–Chinakakani stretch, used daily by
schoolchildren, jasmine farmers, traders, and industrial workers, have been cut
off, forcing a 14 km detour. Redirecting Kondaveeti Vagu floodwaters away from
the capital has instead sent them straight into Mangalagiri. Decisions from
2014–19, when TDP allocated local lakes to IT companies, have worsened the
problem. Despite crores spent on pumping out rainwater, floods return every
monsoon, leaving handloom weavers, goldsmiths, and daily workers without
livelihood. The railway underbridge remains waist-deep in water, forcing
residents into daily hardship.