Relief works on war-footing as heavy rains claims 11 lives

Hyderabad, July 20 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday directed the officials of all departments concerned that relief work should continue on war footing and adequate field staff should be kept ready and plunge into action wherever and whenever necessary and ensure that there should no loss of life and that the required relief reach every needy person.

The Chief Minister held a detailed review meeting with Ministers and officials at Secretariat on the rescue and relief works and also preparedness following heavy rains in many parts of the State. He enquired with every department concerned about the relief works and also their preparedness to meet the situation. He said that continuous monitoring is utmost important since even a small breach can create much damage. He also enquired about the water levels in various reservoirs, inflows and crop damages and also about further rains.

The Chief Minister asked the Minor Irrigation department to take of breaches of minor tanks and also strengthen the weakened tanks and bunds of vagus and rivers. The R&B & Panchayatraj departments should take care of the reported road breaches and take up immediate repairs and the District Collectors should immediately order temporary restoration and make the roads motorable. He said local authorities should be given powers to take up temporary works. Officials informed that already two helicopters are making continuous sorties food and water packets are being distributed to the affected people, one at Bhadrachalam and the other at Mancherial.

The Army and Air officials assured the Chief Minister that three more helicopters are ready and more will be deployed wherever required.

Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the AP Transco CMD to restore power in the areas where there are interruptions due to flooding and continuous rains and asked them to treat these areas on priority. He asked the MA&UD and Rural Water Supply department to take care of drinking water supply in the flood-hit areas. He directed the Medical and Health Department to take care of supply of medicines and availability of doctors.

The Chief Minister directed the Agriculture department to keep enough stocks of alternate seeds of various crops ready wherever there are extensive crop damages as per the requirement of the farmers. Railway officials informed that the entire system is in place and repairs will be taken up if there are damages to the tracks. He asked the Police, Fire and other Emergency departments to be on alert and take up relief operations as and when required. Officials informed that nine NDRF units with boats are already deployed for relief operations.

Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the officials to take care of all flood-hit areas particularly the low lying areas and keep a constant watch. He asked the Civil Supplies Department to take of the ration supplies and officials said three months rations stocks are ready with the department. He asked the officials to coordinate with the Singareni Collieries officials for protection of mines and keeping advanced stocks of coal.

The IMD officials informed that heavy to very heavy rains may occur in various district of Telangana and there is possibility of inundation of some areas in East and West Godavari district because of heavy inflows into Godavari river from Sabari river. The Rainfall received from 01.06.2013 up to 20.07.2013 is 294.5 mm as against the normal of 221.4 mm with a deviation (+) 33%. On 20.07.2013, the State recorded an average rainfall of 13.2 mm while Adilabad – 68.9 mm, Karimnagar – 54.6 mm, Nizamabad – 44.6 mm, Medak – 28.6 mm, Warangal – 12.7 mm, Khammam – 6.9 mm and East Godavari & West Godavari received about 1 mm rainfall. From 19.07.2013 8.00 am to 20.07.2013 8.00 am, the rainfall received in the 5 Mandals of Bejjur (Adilabad) – 169.4 mm, Dahegaon (Adilabad) – 165.2 mm, Bhheemini – 164.4 mm Kagaznagar – 162.8 mm and Kouthala – 152.2 mm.

Three Districts recorded more than 50mm rainfall on 19.07.2013: Karimnagar – 155.2mm, Warangal – 93.8 mm and Nizamabad – 61.5 mm. 161 mandals in 9 districts recorded more than 50 mm (5 cm) on 19.07.2013: Karimnagar – 52, Warangal – 39, Nizamabad – 23, Nalgonda – 14, Medak – 11, Adilabad – 8, Krishna – 8, Khammam – 5 and Rangareddy – 1. From 18.07.2013 (18.07.2013 8.00 AM to 19.07.2013 8.00 AM), the highest rainfall of 460.4 mm was recorded in Wazeedu Mandal of Khammam District. Next highest Mutharam Mahadevpur in Karimnagar District–362.8 mm. Bhoopalpalle (Warangal) – 305.6 mm, Eturnagaram (Warangal) -299.6 mm, Kataram (Karimnagar)-286.8 mm.

River Godavari at Bhadrachalam is flowing at 56.6 ft at 8.30am has come down from 57 ft. Third warning was issued yesterday when the level was 53 ft. River Saberi is flowing now at 35 ft i.e more than 10 ft of the flow yesterday. River Godavari at Dhowleshwaram is flowing at 15ft and second warning issued at 2.30 am this morning. There is a raising trend. Discharge is 14.81 lacs cusecs. Major rivers Pranahita and Penuganga are flowing at the same level in Adilabad district. River Godavari at Kaleswaram and Karimnagar Districts is flowing at 13.05 mtrs. Danger level 13.45 mtrs is expected to reach by 01.00 pm showing rising trend.

Due to continuous heavy rainfall, human loss reported so far is 11 which includes four deaths in Karimnagar, two in Khammam and one each in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Warangal, Medak and Adilabad districts. A total of 2,885 houses have been damaged while a 222 vilalges including 114 in Adilabad have been affected.

So far, 74 Relief Camps were opened and 13250-persons are put up in the relief camps. They include 10 camps in Karimnagar 2,000 persons, Nizamabad – 6 camps 1890 persons, Warangal – 2 camps 500 persons, Khammam – 32 camps 4000 persons, Adilabad – 13 camps 2460 persons, East Godavari – 5 camps 1200 persons and West Godavari – 6 camps 1200 persons.

The Chief Secretary has requested MHA/Defence Ministry/NDMA to provide all required assistance from IAF/Army/NDRF authorities. Two NDRF teams (36 people) NDRF Batallion are positioned at Bhadrachalam. One team each to East Godavari, West Godavari, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Warangal and two teams to Hyderabad have also reached. One Helicopter is being stationed at Karimnagar and one at Bhadrachalam to assist in relief and rescue operations. They are instructed to coordinate with the District Administration of respective districts regarding relief measures to be undertaken.

The District Collectors were instructed to provide relief measures such as ex-gratia/ relief assistance as per SDRF norms besides taking all precautionary measures to prevent loss of life/damage to public/private properties. Heavy Rainfall Warning during next 48 Hours as per

As per IMD forecast, a low pressure area has formed over NW Bay of Bengal off Orissa coast. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain at isolated places would occur in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda of Telangana during next 48 hours. Heavy to very heavy rain would occur in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East & West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Heavy rain would occur in all districts of Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during this period. INN