Locals, Officials save 15 trapped in Bapatla Church amid cyclone Montha floods

A congregation of fifteen people who were trapped inside a local church in Bapatla district during the recent severe cyclonic storm Montha were safely rescued by local residents and official teams, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) late on Wednesday, the Chief Minister stated that fifteen persons stuck in Hosanna Church at Parchur in Bapatla district were rescued within fifteen minutes after their distress call was received. The prompt action was taken jointly by local volunteers and emergency response teams deployed in the region.

A short video released by the Chief Minister showed the churchgoers wading through waist-deep floodwater while being assisted by rescuers holding a long rope to ensure their safety. The trapped individuals were guided carefully across the flooded area to higher ground. The Chief Minister appreciated the swift response of the rescue personnel and the efforts made by villagers who participated in the operation.

According to officials, the flooding in Parchur and nearby mandals occurred after continuous heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Montha, which struck the southern coast earlier this week. The storm, which was named by Thailand and means “a fragrant flower” in the Thai language, brought torrential rains and strong winds to parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Bapatla, Nellore, and Tirupati districts.

Similar instances of people being trapped in prayer halls and churches during heavy rain have been recorded in Andhra Pradesh in previous years. During Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, around twenty people were rescued from a small church near Kovur town in Nellore district after floodwater entered the premises. In November 2021, heavy rains in Bapatla district led to flooding in prayer halls in Chirala and Vetapalem, where villagers used ropes to evacuate people to safety.

The recurring incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of low-lying areas in coastal mandals, where many small churches and houses are situated close to drainage channels and water bodies. Officials said that precautionary measures and early warning systems have been strengthened to prevent such risks in the future.

The state government has directed district administrations to continue relief and rehabilitation works in affected areas, with special focus on restoring power supply, sanitation, and transportation in flood-hit villages.