Flood alert in Andhra Pradesh, govt steps up relief measures

The Andhra Pradesh Government has set up about 100 relief camps across the state and air-dropped food packets to people affected by heavy rains and floods even as the situation in East and West Godavari districts turned grim.

Due to incessant rains and resultant flooding in several areas, especially in the coastal districts, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and other senior officials.

"The relief work should continue on war footing and adequate field staff should be kept ready to ensure no loss to life and property. Officials should ensure that required relief reached every needy person," a government release quoted the chief minister as saying.

The relief measures are being carried out with the help of Army, Air Force, Navy and the National Disaster Response Force and the district administration, the release quoted the Chief Secretary as saying.

The state government has set up around 100 relief camps and air-dropped food packets in Bhadrachalam division (in Khammam district) on Sunday.

Mohanty said that losses to human and cattle lives were prevented due to alertness and timely precautionary measures undertaken by the administration.

District officers have been told to maintain a close watch for the possible breach of tanks and other water bodies, store adequate number of sandbags in case of breaches and repair roads at least temporarily, the release said.

Officials informed that as per the forecast, the flood level is likely to recede at Bhadrachalam and will remain constant at Rajahmundry.

Drinking water, food packets, kerosene, ration are being arranged by NDRF teams wherever necessary.

The rescue and relief measures were being taken up in Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal, Adilabad, Nizamabad, East and West Godavari districts, according to the release.

About 10 people have been killed in the rain-related incidents, while many are affected as the heavy rains have been lashing the state for about a week now.

Around 3,016 people from 14 mandals in the West Godavari district and 1,300 from the East Godavari district have been shifted to relief camps so far, said collector Neetu Prasad.

Godavari and its tributaries, rivulets and other water bodies have been in spate following the heavy rains.

The flood inflow of river Godavari at Dowleswaram bridge in East Godavari district was at 16.80 feet.

The officials had issued the second flood alert in the district on Saturday.

According to officials, the intensity of water inflow in Godavari at 17 lakh cusec was much lower than 1981 floods when the inflow was at 36 lakh cusec of water.

Meanwhile, the state election commission has postponed Gram Panchayat elections in the Rampachodavaram division in East Godavari district to July 31 from scheduled July 23 in view of floods and heavy rains, said Collector Neetu Kumar Prasad.