Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived at Gannavaram Airport here from New Delhi by an Indian Air Force aircraft around 2.30 p.m. and began an aerial survey of the Krishna and Guntur districts ravaged by the massive flood in the Krishna River.
Accompanied by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, Union Ministers Veerappa Moily, S. Jaipal Reddy and the National Disaster Management Authority member Marri Sashidhar Reddy, the Prime Minister began the aerial survey by military helicopters. In all, four helicopters were being used for the survey.
Dr. Singh will reach Hyderabad by the IAF aircraft for a detailed discussion at the Raj Bhavan with the Chief Minister and the officials on the damage caused by the floods.
ADVERTISEMENT
After a night’s halt at the Raj Bhavan, Dr. Singh will leave for an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Karnataka on Saturday morning.
Talking to reporters before the arrival of the Prime Minister, Mr. Rosaiah said he would impress upon Dr. Singh on the need to declare the floods in Andhra Pradesh as a ‘national calamity’. He thanked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister for announcing liberal financial assistance for Andhra Pradesh.