: Chittoor district, which receives copious rain during monsoon and whenever depressions form in the Bay of Bengal, is vulnerable with a substantial number of casualties each year.
Keeping in mind the havoc wrought by the November 2015 downpour in the district, with over 50 casualties, the Fire Department authorities have procured two motor boats to press them into action during emergencies, with focus on monsoon rain this year.
District Fire Officer V. Srinivasulu Reddy told The Hindu that Chittoor alone obtained the two boats in Rayalaseema districts considering the fact that the eastern mandals are close to the Bay of Bengal, and that the district has a number of village tanks and ongoing canal works of Handri-Neeva, in addition to the Galeru-Nagari and Telugu Ganga projects.
The official said in October and November last, incessant rains all over the district, particularly in the eastern belt, resulted in a number of deaths, but fire personnel could save nearly 300 lives.
“Last year, we had used boats from Nellore district. In the absence of our own boats, transport of the equipment such as lifebuoys, jackets and ropes to the submerged areas remained a problem, and the delay is contributing to the casualty levels. Now, we are confident of meeting any rain and water-related emergencies,” he said.
