VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu toured Singh Nagar, one of the severely flood-hit regions, in Vijayawada on a boat on Sunday. Stating that he has never seen such a situation in his 40-year political career, he assured the people of all support and assistance.
He declared that the government’s priority is to save lives above everything else. The Chief Minister also announced that he would be camping at the NTR district Collectorate to monitor the rescue and relief works.
He observed that heavy inflows from upper catchment areas in Telangana following torrential rains resulted in the present crisis.
Accusing the previous YSRC government of neglecting the maintenance of Budameru Canal for the past five years, he said the bund developed the breaches over the last three months. This, he said, resulted in flooding of 17 divisions in Vijayawada city, affecting 2.76 lakh people. “Budmeru water, which was supposed to go to Kolleru, was diverted because of the breach at Singh Nagar and other areas,” he explained.
After the survey, the Chief Minister held a review meeting at the NTR district Collectorate.
He also dialled Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested deployment of NDRF teams and speed boats for rescue and relief operations. He apprised Shah about the flood situation in Vijayawada and other parts of the State. The Union Minister assured to extend all possible help and said he will direct the Home Secretary to render necessary assistance.
Subsequently, Naidu called the Home Secretary and explained the situation.
All gates of Prakasasm Barrage lifted; flood alert sounded in Avanigadda
Breach to the Nawabpet tank in Penuganchiprolu mandal disrupted traffic, while Gampalagudem mandal’s Nallacheruvu and Chandralapadu mandal’s Enugugadda streams overflowed, leaving several villages marooned.
In Indiramma Colony, located in Shanti Nagar of Kondapalli, Ibrahimpatnam mandal, nearly 200 families were stranded. The entire ground floor of a building was submerged, prompting NDRF personnel to evacuate residents and shift them to safer locations.
As of 10 pm on Sunday, Prakasam Barrage recorded a surplus of 9,94,975 cusecs. All 70 gates were lifted to release the surplus water. Second flood warning was in force. Several people living downstream of the Prakasam Barrage were put on alert. A flood alert was sounded in Avanigadda and other regions. Incessant rains in Telangana brought heavy inflows to the Krishna River.
Power production at Vijayawada Thermal Power Station was affected as coal was completely drenched due to the heavy rains on Saturday. Four buses, which were submerged near the Pandit Nehru Bus Station on Saturday, were retrieved with the help of cranes on Sunday. Floodwater from the railway underpass near the bus station was pumped out.
With rainwater flowing onto the railway track at Rayanapadu, Tamil Nadu Express was halted. AP Express was diverted, while the Vande Bharat train from Visakhapatnam to Secundrabad was cancelled.
After heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Guntur district, road connectivity to several villages was cut off by overflowing water bodies. Guntur-Amaravati Road and Amaravati-Vijayawada Road were completely inundated due to the overflowing Kondavagu Lake.
The overflowing Kottellu Lake and Nakkavagu also cut off road connectivity in Thulluru, Prathipadu, and Gottipadu villages. The incessant rainfall hindered relief operations in the villages. Due to heavy rainfall in Mangalagiri, the highway near Kaza Toll Plaza was inundated, causing distress to commuters.