Andhra Pradesh, Telangana rains highlights: CM Naidu asks technicians from other places to help with repairs in flooded areas

The Centre has been assisting Andhra Pradesh and Telangana’s flood relief projects and rescue efforts on time, and an inter-ministerial central team will soon visit the affected areas in both states and will make an on-the-spot assessment of the damage, a senior officer of the Union home ministry said on Friday (September 6, 2024).

Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry Sanjeev Kumar Jindal said 26 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), eight helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), three helicopters and one Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy have been mobilised in Andhra Pradesh for rescue and relief operations. Seven teams of the NDRF, and two helicopters of the IAF have also been mobilised in Telangana, he added.

- PTI

In the wake of widespread flood damage to vehicles and electric appliances, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu observed that technicians should be called from other places for repairs.

“If needed, give some compensation to technicians and mechanics from other places,” said Naidu in an release while reviewing relief work with senior officials on the sixth day of the deluge.

Similarly, he also enquired about sanitation work and the deployment of fire engines to clean roads, colonies and houses from the mud and slush dumped by the deluge.

-PTI

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met with flood-affected farmers at Kesarapalli village, along with A.P. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu, Minister of State for Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and others. Mr. Atchannaidu explained the extent of the damage in the flood-hit areas to the Union Minister.

The farmers appealed for immediate help from the Centre, and Mr. Chouhan promised compensation as soon as possible, while Mr. Atchannaidu assured help for every acre to save the farmers.

- PTI

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference with officials on Friday and enquired about the progress being made in closing the breaches.

He directed officials to close the third breach as soon as possible by roping in all the departments and also checked about power restoration, telecom signal connectivity and drinking water supply through tankers.

The CM also enquired about the distribution of six essential necessities to flood victims and the officials informed him that the things were packed, and the distribution had begun.

A fleet of vehicles has already been readied on Vijayawada BRTS road to distribute the essentials, which include 25 kg of rice, 1 kg dal, 1kg sugar, 2 kg onions, 2 kg of potatoes and 1 litre of cooking oil for the victims.

Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar said that 1,200 vehicles have been readied for distribution.

-PTI

The Engineering Task Force of the Indian Army has arrived in Vijayawada and is working on war footing to close the breaches of Budameru, a rivulet in Vijayawada, which wreaked havoc in the city with floods, the state government said on Friday.

Two breaches have been closed and the most difficult third breach is being worked on by the task force, along with the state government machinery.

“The Engineering Task Force of the Indian Army is engaged in closing the breaches. Two breaches have been closed by officials on a war footing and with the cooperation of Army officials, the most difficult third breach is being worked upon,” said the release.

-PTI

MHA has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) which will visit affected areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana shortly for making an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the flood.

Incessant monsoon rains and the resultant flash floods have once again wreaked havoc across Telangana, leaving villages submerged, homes destroyed, and lives lost. P. Sridhar and P. Laxma Reddy shed light on how a lack of preparedness and unfinished flood protection projects have further compounded the crisis. 

Read the story here:

An unending cycle of floods and grief in Telangana

Shaik Sharif recounts surviving a devastating flood in Khammam district, highlighting the tragic impact of unprecedented rainfall.

Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday (September 6, 2024) conducted aerial survey of the areas affected by recent heavy rains and flooding in Khammam town, Kusumanchi, Madhira and other mandals in Khammam district, Telangana.

He was accompanied by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Read the story here.

Thousands of victims of the Vijayawada floods had to grapple for food and water to sustain themselves as they battled the wrath of rain for three days. Even as government relief operations continued to reach the victims, the loss of lives and properties in combat with the wrath of water left a deep mark on the victims. However, humanity keeps afloat the flood-ravaged colonies of Vijayawada, writes Nellore Sravani. Read it here:

Vijayawada floods: surviving the wrath of ‘sorrow’

Desperate flood victims in Vijayawada await aid as chaos and devastation grip the city, leaving many helpless and stranded.

Donations continue to pour in for Telangana Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF). Employees of State Bank of India (Telangana) came forward to donate ₹5 crore, equivalent to a day’s salary, to the CMRF for the flood victims.

Donations pour in for flood victims in Telangana

Generous donations pour in for Telangana CM Relief Fund from SBI, Aurobindo Pharma, AIG Hospitals, and more.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that Army teams are being roped in to plug the Budameru rivulet breaches to control the flood situation in Vijayawada.

Addressing a press conference at the NTR district collectorate in Vijayawada on Thursday, Mr. Naidu, who was accompanied by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said Mr. Chouhan had been apprised about the catastrophe.

“The Army is also coming to close the breach...We are putting in all efforts we need to do,” said Mr. Naidu.

According to the CM, a technical team has arrived to analyse the situation, following unprecedented rains and floods in the centrally located commercial city.

- PTI

Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy monitored the relief efforts in the flood-affected colonies in Khammam rural mandal and elsewhere in the Palair Assembly constituency for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday (September 5, 2024).

He visited Karunagiri, Jalagamnagar, Rajiv Gruhakalpa and several other colonies and villages in Khammam rural mandal on a bike to supervise the implementation of relief measures. He assured the people in flood-affected areas that ₹10,000 compensation will be deposited in their bank accounts by Friday evening. 

The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, briefed the press on the ongoing flood situation and the rescue efforts carried out by various teams in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

He highlighted the rescue and relief efforts carried out by NDRF and Indian Air Force teams, with over 350 people being rescued so far and 15,000 people evacuated in Andhra Pradesh. In Telangana, the teams have rescued 60 people and evacuated 3200 people.

“IAF have been mobilised in Telangana for rescue and relief activities. NDRF teams, so far, have rescued 350 persons and have evacuated about 15,000 persons in Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana, they have rescued 68 persons and evacuated about 3200 persons. They have also provided pre-hospital treatment to a number of affected persons and are assisting the local administration in distributing the food and relief material to the marooned families.” he said in a statement.

He said that the central forecasting agencies, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) have been issuing timely and accurate alerts on a daily basis to the states. He also highlighted the rescue efforts carried out by various agencies in both the states.

- ANI

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has asserted that the State government would prevail upon the insurance companies to clear the claims made by flood victims within 10 days.

Mr. Naidu, on Wednesday, said that many two-wheelers and four-wheelers were damaged due to the floods. “The government will ensure that the claims put in by owners of insured vehicles will be cleared within 10 days. The government is thinking of a solution for vehicles that are not covered under insurance,” the Chief Minister said.

The Andhra Pradesh government will start distributing essential commodities to the flood victims in Vijayawada and its surrounding areas from September 6 (Friday), Civil Supplies, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar has said. 

“Around two lakh people have been identified for the supply of 25 kgs of rice, two kgs of onions and potatoes, 1 kg dal, 1 litre cooking oil and 1 kg sugar each,” Mr. Manohar told the media at the Collectorate in Vijayawada on September 5 (Thursday). 

The essential commodities would also be distributed to those not having ration cards by recording their Aadhaar card data or collecting thumb impressions, he said. 

A Central team deputed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to make a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the floods in NTR, Guntur and Prakasam districts reached Vijayawada on Thursday morning. They were tasked with submitting a report to the Central government on the extent of damage to enable it to disburse immediate financial assistance.

To start with, the team led by Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Additional Secretary of MoHA, visited the State Emergency Operations Centre of the State Disaster Management Authority at Kunchanapalli in Guntur district. He was given a basic overview of the topography of the area before venturing into the flood-ravaged areas in Vijayawada city and other places, particularly the Budameru rivulet.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has stated that the State government will submit a preliminary report on losses incurred due to the floods and heavy rains to the Union government by Friday (September 6, 2024) evening. A detailed report will be submitted after a thorough assessment of the damage later, he said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday night, Mr. Naidu said the initial report would reach the Centre by Friday evening. The report would help the inter-ministerial team from the Central government, which visited Vijayawada, the worst affected place, to estimate the losses and destruction. The Andhra Pradesh government will send a detailed report based on the preliminary report, he said, adding, “I have spoken with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as well.”

Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan stressed the need for long-term planning to tackle more severe floods likely to be caused by the Krishna River at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada in the future, given the perilous situation which the city has gone through in a span of 48 hours.

The Central team, which is currently on a visit to the city, will submit a report on the floods with suggestions on how to increase the discharge capacity of Prakasam Barrage, Mr. Chouhan stated.

Addressing reporters along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the NTR District Collectorate on Thursday, Mr. Chouhan said the State government was caught unawares by the massive flood, but has been working round the clock to mitigate the damage. The death toll would have otherwise been higher, he noted.

Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed the department officials to take steps to immediately invite tenders for repair and restoration of tanks and canals which suffered damages due to the recent heavy rains.

In addition to damaged tanks and canals, steps should be taken to complete the tender process for restoration of partially damaged water bodies. Accordingly, the process for securing administrative approvals should be taken today (September 5, 2024) evening and tenders should be posted online portal by Friday morning (September 6, 2024).

As flood havoc continues in Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with State Minister Nara Lokesh interacted with locals at Vijayawada to take stock of the situation.

Soon afterwards, Union Minister Chouhan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a press conference and said that the situation in Vijayawada is unprecedented and there has been a lot of crop damage also in the area, with 2 lakh farmers affected.

“The situation in Vijayawada is unprecedented. The area received 400mm of rainfall in a short time, such a thing has never happened before. I thank CM Chandrababu Naidu along with his team is working 24/7. The Central government is providing all help to the state. The loss of human lives has been minimal. Teams of NDRF are working here. MPs MLAs, and ministers are engaged in work here,” he said.

- ANI