Heavy rains that lashed Andhra Pradesh over the last three days have claimed a dozen lives so far, even as the state
administration braced up to meet the situation arising from floods in some parts of the state.
Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who is in the last leg of his tour in Dubai, noted with concern the death of 12 persons in the state.
Ranga Reddy and Khammam districts accounted for five deaths each, followed by Warangal district. Reddy instructed officials to arrange necessary relief for bereaved families immediately.
Officials informed the chief minister that on account of the southwest monsoon and the depression in the Bay of Bengal, moderate to heavy rains were received in Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh region, mainly in Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Warangal and Nalgonda districts in the last 24 hours.
The average rainfall in the state, as on Sunday morning, was 23.3 mm.
The officials said that 28 irrigation sources were breached and 46 damaged so far and the damages occurred mainly in Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts.
Seven relief camps were organised in Hyderabad and two each in Ranga Reddy and Warangal districts. In all, 721 families were evacuated either to safer places or relief camps and food packets were distributed. Damages were caused to 85 houses in Ranga Reddy district alone.
The chief minister held a teleconference with Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda, Chief Minister's Office officials and Commissioner for Disaster Management Shashank Goel, and reviewed the situation arising out of the heavy rains.
He directed the chief secretary to alert the revenue staff to be vigilant and ready to evacuate people in low-lying areas in case of rains persisting in the next 24 hours. He also directed him to obtain daily situation and action taken reports.
He cautioned the Irrigation and Panchayat Raj Department officials to keep a close watch on the overflowing tanks throughout the state and restore them wherever breaches or damages occurred.
He spoke to railway authorities in Delhi and urged them to restore the damaged tracks immediately in view of reports of track damages in certain parts of the state due to which several trains were dislocated causing untold hardships to the passengers.
He instructed authorities to extend Road Transport Corporation bus services where train services were disrupted and caused inconvenience to passengers.
Reddy directed officials to extend bus services, particularly between Hyderabad-Warangal and Hyderabad-Vijayawada.
Power utility officials were directed to be vigilant round the clock to avoid accidents due to electrocution on account of heavy downpour.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the relief measures taken up by various departments such as Revenue, Police, Municipal Administration, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply Board and Andhra Pradesh Transco to minimise the loss of human lives and properties.
