Chandrababu Naidu urges fast release of aid to rehabilitate Titli victims

A seven-member team from the central government on Friday met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in connection with Titli cyclone and its aftermath. The team led by Sanjiv Kumar Jindal, Joint Secretary of Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also visited Titli cyclone affected areas to assess the damage.

During their meeting with Chief Minister Naidu, Jindal expressed satisfaction over the rescue and relief operations taken up by the state government. The central team also mentioned the response of the victims about the aid by the state govt. The Chief Minister explained that a loss of Rs 3673.10 crores incurred due to Titli cyclone and asked the central team to react quickly in providing financial aid.

"Lakhs of trees are collapsed, hundreds of animals died, huge number of houses are damaged, power supply is hugely hampered, huge length of roads are badly damaged. Srikakulam is a most backward district, with very less per capita income. People in the area are most prone to kidney diseases. We alerted the people immediately when cyclone warnings came. We alerted the officials via teleconferences in order to minimise human loss. After cyclone, we took up rescue and relief operations at war footage and see that normalcy is restored within 12 days," Chief Minister Naidu said.

"I spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone about the Titli losses. I wrote a letter to him with full details of loss incurred. But there is no response from the centre till date. Union Home minister Rajnath Singh came to Andhra Pradesh for their party office ground breaking ceremony. But he did not visited cyclone affected areas. That pained me a lot. We have worked hard, did not even celebrate Dasahara. We have made arrangements that the victims get compensation within 20 days of cyclone. While the state govt is putting all its efforts, it is very unfortunate that the centre is not at all caring for Titli victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come to Visakhapatnam at the time of Hudhud cyclone, promised Rs 1000 crores, but could not abide by it. He gave only Rs 650 crores. However, I hope at least now justice will be done to the Titli victims of Andhra Pradesh," he added.