KHAMMAM: While a week has passed since the city was inundated, many Khammam residents have neither been able to shake off memories of the floods nor access their homes, which are covered in silt and other debris from ceiling to floor. Locals complain that despite cleaning for the last five days, they still have to wade through mounds of mud and other remnants left behind by the murky waters.
On August 31 and September 1, as many as 12,047 houses in 13 localities spread across Khammam were inundated. The administration has estimated the total loss to be Rs 339 crore.
Among those affected, a majority are reported to be daily-wage labourers, small-time workers, auto-rickshaw drivers and small business owners. “They have lost their means of livelihood and are even unable to enter their place of residence. Due to lack of government support, they are having to procure water for cleaning belongings and other items,” locals said. R Swarna, a resident of Venkateswaranagar, said, “We can’t even enter our house and cook food.”
A Bokkalagadda resident, N Ramakrishna, said that he, along with his four family members, have been cleaning their house for the last four days and managed to cover only 60% of the area.
“Slush has entered every nook and cranny of the house. It is a major hassle to clean electronic items and there is a large amount of mud and debris to clear,” he added.
G Yella Reddy from Kalvoddu said, “It is not an easy task to clean up the mess in our homes. Water supply is insufficient, and we are relying on private tankers, which are costly. The government is only focusing on cleaning roads, not homes.”
The victims are still dependent on food provided by donors, as no one has been able to return to their homes due to the pending cleaning process. Many are staying with relatives at night and returning to clean their homes during the day, while others are taking shelter in flood relief camps at night.
