Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday
requested the Centre to extend financial assistance from the
National Calamity Contingency Fund for relief operations in
rain-ravaged districts of the state.
Heavy rainfall since October 30, which has been much
above than normal, took a toll of 25 persons so far while four
others were still missing.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah addressed separate letters to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P
Chidambaram today urging them to extend necessary financial
assistance to meet urgent needs caused by the calamity.
He, however, did not specify the amount immediately
required but wanted the Prime Minister to direct the
inter-ministerial team of officials from the Centre, currently
touring the state to assess the damage caused by Laila cyclone
last year, to stay back and assess the current damage as well.
The state government, meanwhile, alerted the Army and
the National Disaster Response Force to be on standby to meet
any eventuality as heavy rains continued to pour in the
coastal districts. The threat of a cyclonic storm also loomed
large over south coastal Andhra.
Rosaiah would undertake an aerial survey of the rain
affected districts of East Godavari, West Godavari and
Krishna tomorrow "if weather permits." He will also land at
some places that were worst hit to inspect the damage
personally.
The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting on
the current situation with ministers, Chief Secretary S V
Prasad and heads of various departments.
He spoke to collectors of coastal districts over phone
from Hyderabad and directed them to continue the relief camps
for affected people. Ministers have been directed to rush to
their respective districts to supervise the relief operations.
The Chief Minister`s Office informed that 27,676 persons
have been evacuated to safety and lodged in 110 relief camps
in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Prakasam and
Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore districts.
Medical teams have also been rushed to the rain-hit areas
to prevent spread of contagious diseases like diahhorea.
Talking to newsmen in the Secretariat after the review
meeting, the Chief Minister said agricultural crops suffered
extensive damage because of the heavy rains.
"We were hopeful of a bumper harvest this Kharif season
but suddenly this disaster occurred," he pointed out.
Preliminary reports suggested that agricultural crops,
primarily paddy in the Delta regions, in 2,83,566 hectares
were damaged, he said.
As many as 234 minor irrigation tanks suffered breaches
while roads extending to a length of 11,767 km were damaged
due to heavy rains.
"The exact extent of losses will be assessed after the
water recedes," Rosaiah added.
Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Dharmana
Prasada Rao, Chief Secretary S V Prasad and other top
officials were also present.
PTI
