VIJAYAWADA: Expressing deep concern over the extensive devastation caused by Titli cyclone in Srikakulam district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday appealed to the people to donate liberally for relief and rehabilitation works. “This is high time for all of us to extend our total support to the cyclone victims of Srikakulam,’’ Naidu said.
In an open letter to people, he said the cyclone victims of Srikakulam had not lost their self-confidence despite the trail of destruction left by the severe cyclonic storm. “It is time for all of us to come forward and extend all possible help to the cyclone victims,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the precautionary measures taken by the State government ensured that the loss of life due to the cyclonic storm was minimum as winds with a speed of 165 km hit the coastal districts when it made a landfall. The cyclone left lakhs of people in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts in distress as it caused extensive damage to their houses and crops. Hence, we all should come to the rescue of cyclone victims on humanitarian grounds, Naidu said.
Explaining the steps taken by the government to restore normalcy in the cyclone-affected areas, he said despite submission of a report to the Centre seeking Rs 1,200 crore as interim relief, there was no response from the Prime Minister.
“Without waiting for Central relief, we have expedited the relief operations in the cyclone-affected areas. In addition to the support being extended by the government, voluntary organisations and NRIs should also come forward to provide aid to the cyclone victims, he said.
Titli loss reports submitted to PMO
Relief Commissioner D Varaprasad and Resident Commissioner of AP Bhavan Praveen Prakash met Joint Secretary to Prime Minister Debashree Mukherjee and Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha in New Delhi and submitted copies of the CM’s letters to the PM and preliminary reports on cyclone loss