Andhra-Telangana on high alert: 31 dead, 4.5L displaced in floods
What's the story
Unprecedented rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has claimed the lives of 31 people and displaced over 4.5 lakh residents. The deluge has severely damaged infrastructure, including roads and rail tracks, leading to a halt in connectivity. Thousands of acres of agricultural land are submerged, exacerbating the crisis as people scramble for daily necessities amid ongoing rescue efforts.
Relief efforts
Indian Air Force mobilized for relief operations
In response to the crisis, two Indian Air Force C-130 aircraft from Agartala have been dispatched with relief supplies for the affected regions in both states. Additionally, four Mi-17 and Chetak helicopters each are on duty, alongside 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams engaged in rescue operations.
Hardest hit
Andhra Pradesh bears the brunt of torrential rains
Andhra Pradesh has been particularly hard-hit by the downpour, with 15 fatalities reported and at least 4.5 lakh people affected. The most severely impacted districts include NTR, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, Palnadu, Bapatla and Prakasam. Vijayawada is experiencing significant disruption due to continuous heavy rain over three days and power outages lasting more than 24 hours in several parts of the city.
Public outcry
Residents voice concerns over lack of aid
Residents have voiced their concerns over the lack of aid during this crisis. One woman told Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that people were stranded for two days in Ajit Singh Nagar without drinking water. At one relief distribution point, a flood victim complained about not having milk since September 1 and alleged no help came from the government.
Aid request
Telangana seeks central assistance for flood damage
The Telangana government has estimated the damage from the rain at ₹5,000 crore and is seeking immediate central assistance of ₹2,000 crore. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the affected areas and declare the floods a national calamity. He also announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of those killed in rain-related incidents.