Relief works continue on war-footing in flood-hit areas

Hyderabad, July 22 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed Chief Secretary Dr P.K.Mohanty and other senior officials to monitor closely with the District Collectors and speed up rescue and relief measures in the flood-hit areas, mainly in East and West Godavari and Khammam districts. He said in these districts, the flood situation seems to be severe.

The Chief Minister has asked the officials to start Relief camps for the victims, air-dropping of food packets, drinking water, medicines etc. wherever necessary.

Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the heavy rains and the latest flood situation, water levels in various reservoirs and inflows with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials at Secretariat this morning. Earlier, the Chief Minister discussed the Rescue and Relief Measures with Revenue Minister Dr N Raghuveera Reddy and Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy at Camp Office.

Five helicopters are being operated in Karimnagar District on July 20 for relief and rescue operations and returned back to Hyderabad. Two helicopters have reached Bhadrachalam and are making sorties for relief operations. One helicopter is being sent to Rajahmundry today. In addition to the seven NDRF teams which are already in place in six districts, one additional team is being sent to Narasapur in West Godavari. A total of 10 NDRF teams consisting 414 persons and 60 boats and life-saving people are deployed in Bhadrachalam, East and West Godavari, Adilabad and Karimnagar.

Rice and kerosene will be distributed as per the existing procedure. 20 kgs rice and 5 litres of kerosene will be distributed to each family who stayed continuously in the relief camps for three days and left for home. As long as their houses remain submerged, relief camps will feed them. Average rainfall recorded on July 22 is 10.8 mm as against 2.2 mm on Sunday. Highest rainfall recorded in Karimnagar is 27.6 mm, total rainfall received from 01.06.2013 to 22.07.2013 is 306.9 mm as against normal rainfall of 237.4 mm with deviation of (+) 29% Major River flow: Godavari level at Bhadrachalam on 22-7-2013 is 50.6 ft against 55.8 ft on 21-7-13, at Dowleshwaram 17.1 feet on 22-7-13 against 16.8 feet on 21-7-13. Sabari at Bhadrachalam on 22-7-13 is 24 against 41 feet on 21-7-13. So far 12 deaths were reported as on 21-7-13.

A total of 5,204 houses were damaged which includes 826 fully and 1,297 severely damaged houses. Crop submergence reported is 59,878 Ha in eight districts. They include Cotton (23,245 Ha), Soyabean (18,430 Ha), Maize (10,353 Ha), Paddy (4,606 Ha) and Pulses (2,988 Ha). Horticulture crops submerged in 3,153 ha.

In all so far 240 Minor Irrigation tanks reported damaged/breached and 3,877 Kms of R& B roads reported damaged.

The TRANSCO has reported that power has been restored in 480 villages out of 884 villages. The number of relief camps in operation on Monday is 53 with 8,361 persons as against 65 with 11,770 persons as on Sunday.

The Officials informed that first time during the last five years, Jurala Project receiving good in-flows from Karnataka reservoirs and the power generation also started at Jurala.

As per IMD forecast for Andhra Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam East Godavari, West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam of Telangana during the next 48 hours. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places in the remaining districts of Telangana and Coastal AP during the same period. INN