VIJAYAWADA: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday sounded an SOS to prime minister Narendra Modi, seeking an immediate release of `1,000 crore for use for relief and restoration operations in the rain-affected districts in the state.
In a letter to the prime minister, Chandrababu Naidu, who made an aerial survey of the rain-hit districts Wednesday, said that the total damage, according to preliminary estimates, would be about `3,000 crore and as many as 35 people might have died in the calamity.
Heavy rains and consequent floods damaged crops and infrastructure including irrigation tanks, roads (both R&B and panchayat raj) and power supply. As many as 95 stations received very heavy rainfall ranging from 200 mm to 657 mm between November 15 and 19, and the worst affected district was Nellore followed by Chittoor and Kadapa. Also, there was extensive crop damage in East and West Godavari districts and minor damage in Anantapur, Prakasam and Krishna, he pointed out.
As many as 613 cattle perished, 146 villages were affected and 467 houses were completely damaged. Crops in an area of two lakh hectares were affected and 550 irrigation tanks and channels were damaged. Roads of R&B and those of panchayat raj departments were damaged to an extent of 1,865 km, he listed out.
A huge breach of about 100 m occurred on National Highway 16 at Manubolu near Gudur, which caused breaking of link between Nellore and its revenue division Gudur. As many as 188 relief camps had been set up and 26,206 persons had been evacuated to the camps where they were being provided food.
Work was progressing on war-footing basis for restoration of national highway and it is expected that the movement of traffic would begin soon. Already, NDRF teams had been deployed for rescue operations and 10 lakh water sachets, biscuits and milk and 12,000 blankets had been organised for Nellore district, he informed.
Power restoration works had been taken up on war-footing and supply will soon be restored in the affected areas. Temporary ring bunds had been formed in breached tanks to preserve water, he explained.
Naidu requested the prime minister to act generously and said that a final report on the extent of damage would be sent to him once the enumeration is over.