Central team will assess flood situation, Relief will be sent: Naidu(Update)

Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and promised all help from the Centre.

"Yesterday, I did an aerial survey of certain portions of the flood affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Water is receding, but the damage has been extensive for the farmers in the affected districts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. One side, the drought prone areas got rain and most of the tanks and reservoirs got filled, but at the same time, standing crops were lost," he said while speaking to the media.

Almost all water reservoirs in the state were receiving huge inflows. The authorities are releasing surplus water from the Prakasam barrage, which is receiving massive inflows from upstream projects across the Krishna River.

A central team will visit the state after receiving a report from the state government about the losses. Naidu said all necessary assistance will be provided by the Centre.

Speaking about the meeting with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said, "Today, after I came back, I had a meeting with the Finance Minister and also the Home Minister and the Agriculture Minister. I discussed with them and explained to them, the damage caused to the districts of Andhra and Telangana and requested them to send a central team at the earliest and extend the needed relief."

"The Home Minister and the Finance Minister told me, the moment they get the report from the state government, the central team will go and make an assessment and then whatever support is required, that will be given to both the states," he added.

The rains have caused severe damage to the standing crops in Guntur district, including paddy fields that have been submerged. Other standing crops, mostly chillies, turmeric and cotton, grown on over 41,000 hectares suffered extensive damage.

"Districts in Telangana were receiving continuous rains caused severe damage to the standing crops. The Home Minister told me that every state has a State Disaster Relief Fund. 75 percent of the reserves in this Fund are provided by the Central government which is in two installments," he said.

"The State may claim from the State Disaster Relief Fund and the central team after assessing the situation will report back to the high level team presided over by the Home Minister and then the relief will be given," Naidu added.

Naidu flew over Peddanandipadu Gurazala, Macherla and other villages to inspect the damaged crops and also made an aerial survey of the railway tracks damaged due to floods.

Several villages have been affected with several colonies in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Kurnool inundated with water while heavy rains lashed East and West Godavari districts resulting rain waters flowing over the roads.

In Guntur district's Sattenapalli and Narsaraopet vehicular traffic came to a standstill. Several train services were cancelled which include Faluknuma, Amaravati Express and some passenger trains.

Incessant rains occurred under the influence of a low-pressure area formed over west central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The Met Department forecasts rain or thundershowers with heavy to very heavy showers in many places over Andhra Pradesh. The southwest monsoon has been active over Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation in the state and instructed the officials to all necessary help and medicines to the people in the affected areas. Inundated areas have been provided food packets and drinking water packets.