There is no respite for the flood-affected victims in the districts of Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari, Kadapa and Vijaywada even after being submerged in water for five days. The various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and relief teams are waiting for the water to recede to begin relief work and rehabilitation in full swing.
“Our volunteers are still involved in search and rescue operations and our teams of doctors are already there. Once the water recedes we will start distributing clothes, food grains and medicines,” said Dr. Prakash Goud, Head of Disaster Management, Red Cross, Hyderabad.
Around 100 Red Cross volunteers are working in the flood-affected areas where they have set-up ham radios, which help in better communication during the rescue operations. They are also distributing food packets, fresh water and chlorine tablets to the victims.
“We are rehabilitating the people from the water-logged areas to different Government High schools, community and marriage halls for the time being and giving them breakfast and meals twice a day. Tomorrow we will start distributing biscuit packets and buttermilk,” said Dr. Murali Krishna a member of the NGO Seva Bharati, who is supervising the relief work in Vijaywada.
“One of the local NGOs attempted to distribute blankets but it lead to a stampede landing one person in the hospital. Once the situation is under control we will be able to start distribution of various other items on a mass scale,” he added.
Most of the NGO volunteers are unable to reach the interiors of the flood-hit areas and provide them with aid.
“Some of our volunteers are already in Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar, Kurnool. However once the transport situation improves we will send a team of young volunteers to set-up rehabilitation centres,” said Shwetal Rai, Media Coordinator, Art of Living Foundation, Hyderabad.
She added that the volunteers and doctors are providing trauma relief, medications and food to the victims.
“Our top priority is health and with reports of diarrhoea outbreak we are arranging for more medicines,” said Shwetal.
While passage to the flood-hit areas remains inaccessible, the NGOs in the city are busy collecting donations.
“We have already sent one truck load of food, clothes, stainless steel utensils, blankets and chlorine tablets for water purification and are in the process of collecting more,” said Surender Pal Singh, President of Andhra Punjabi Sabha.
“We are distributing new bed sheets, slippers and money to the victims,” said Shwetal from Art of Living Foundation.
Dr. Krishna from Red Cross added that there have been many individual volunteers coming forward and donating food grains, clothes and other necessary items.
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