Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu Visits Flood-Hit Areas in Vijayawada, Promises Assistance to Affected Families
On Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited flood-affected areas in Vijayawada, assuring the affected families that the government would provide all possible assistance. Despite concerns from his security team, Naidu toured the flooded areas in a boat to get a first-hand look at the devastation.
Naidu directed the authorities to relocate the affected families to safer areas and took personal oversight of the relief efforts. During his visit to Ajith Singh Nagar, a neighborhood severely flooded after a breach in the Budameru canal, he instructed officials to prioritize preventing any loss of life. “I have never seen such a calamity in Vijayawada city,” the Chief Minister remarked, expressing his concern over the unprecedented flooding.
The flooding turned Ajith Singh Nagar and its surrounding areas into virtual lakes, with water from the Budameru canal entering homes. Authorities swiftly evacuated residents from the submerged areas to safer locations and set up relief camps. Senior citizens noted that they hadn’t witnessed such severe flooding in over 50 years.
In a significant move, Naidu canceled his planned visit to Hyderabad and chose to stay at the NTR District Collector’s office in Vijayawada to monitor the rescue and relief operations closely. He declared his intention to remain there until normalcy was restored. Arrangements were made to convert the Collector’s office into a camp office for the Chief Minister, and if necessary, he was prepared to spend the night in a bus to ensure he could oversee the ongoing relief efforts.
Home Minister V. Anita and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Chinni accompanied the Chief Minister at the Collector’s office. The Vijayawada MP made provisions to distribute 6,000 food packets to the people in the affected areas.
The heavy rains, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal and an active monsoon over the past two days, have left a trail of destruction across Vijayawada, Guntur, and several other towns. Although the depression crossed the coast in the early hours of Sunday, rains continued to lash several parts of Andhra Pradesh, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for educational institutions on Monday due to the forecast of more rain.
Earlier, during a teleconference with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and activists across the state, Chief Minister Naidu called on them to provide all possible assistance to flood victims. He emphasized that the unexpected floods had caused widespread damage, and with preventive measures, the loss of lives could be minimized.
Reflecting on past efforts, Naidu noted that even when TDP was in opposition, the party had provided assistance to those in need, using their own resources. He assured that whenever the TDP is in power, all necessary steps are taken to ensure that people do not face undue hardship.
The Chief Minister urged party activists to actively participate in relief measures and support those living along the Krishna River basin. “If the government’s assistance is necessary, inform the authorities concerned immediately,” he added.
Naidu’s proactive approach and commitment to staying on-site underscore his dedication to managing the crisis and providing relief to those affected by the floods.
