Andhra Pradesh is preparing for continued heavy rainfall as the meteorological department has issued a red alert for three districts and an orange alert for five others over the next two days. The state has already been grappling with severe flooding that has resulted in significant damage and loss of life.
A red alert has been declared for Srikakulam, Manyam, and Vizianagaram districts, indicating the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall. An orange alert has been issued for Visakhapatnam, Alluri, Anakapalli, Kakinada, and Yanam, signaling heavy rainfall in these areas.
According to meteorologist KVS Srinivas, the state has been inundated by recent heavy rains, which have damaged property and resulted in 45 fatalities from rain-related incidents. While waterlogging has somewhat diminished, severe flooding continues to affect daily life and infrastructure.
In response to the crisis, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha will initiate an assessment of flood damage in Vijayawada today. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has reported extensive damage to 140,000 single-floor residences and has sought assistance from the central government. The Chief Minister has also informed Governor S Abdul Nazeer about the critical situation.
To address the immediate needs, the state government has arranged for the distribution of three lakh food packets, along with milk and biscuits. Additionally, 5 lakh kg of vegetables have been sold through 163 stores. Emergency services have cleaned 20,000 houses using fire engines and deployed 42 drones for sanitation work.
Neighboring Telangana has also been severely affected by the floods. In response, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Friday that the central government will provide ₹3,448 crore in immediate aid to both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The assistance aims to mitigate the impact of the floods and will be followed by a detailed assessment of crop damage, which could lead to further support in the form of seeds, fertilizers, and loan waivers for farmers.
Sources By Agencies
