VISAKHAPATNAM: Having received heavy inflows owing to the rain, Sarada and Varaha rivers, which are in spate, have left several residential colonies and crop fileds in Yelamanchili, Rambilli, Chodavaram, Nakkapalli, S Rayavaram, Payakaraopeta and Kasimkota mandals inundated.
With water not receding, the authorities have opened more relief camps. In total, nine relief camps have been opened to which 7,000 people have been shifted so far.
As the water level almost reached its holding capacity, the officials lifted the gates of Raiwada reservoir and 2,668 cusecs of water was released.
Paddy crops in more than 7,000 hectare were under three feet of water in 15 mandals including Anakapalle, K.Kotapadu, Devarapalli, Payakaraopeta and Nakkapalli.
The administration is using the drones to assess the crop losses. Agriculture officials said that the paddy and sugarcane crops over an estimated 15,000 hectares have been damaged. “The kharif crop was completely damaged in 18 mandals. Once the normalcy is restored and water receded, we can asses the loss,” said an agriculture official, after visiting S Rayavaram mandal.
The district administration has deployed senior officials to each Assembly constituency to look after the relief and rehabilitation works. Collector Pravin Kumar released `59 lakh for immediate repair works of the damaged tanks and roads.
He also announced `4 lakh to each the kin of the 10 persons who had died in the rain-related incidents. “The compensation amount will be paid to the family members within 24 hours,” the collector said.
The collector monitored the situation from the newly opened command and control room.
With the high alert of the IMD, the collector directed the mandal and village-level administrations to keep ready the cement, sand and other material to attend to the breaches of tanks and canals. The NDRF unit has been requested to keep ready their forces for deployment. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been also requested to keep the rescue teams ready.