4.5 lakh people evacuated in flood-hit districts

Hyderabad, Oct 3 :

 Minister for Revenue Dharmana Prasada Rao on Saturday stated that over 4.5 lakh people evacuated after massive floods submerged Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Krishna, Guntur and Nalgonda districts.

Talking to media persons after convening an emergency review meeting with Ministers and officials concerned, the Minister said that though the number of deaths occurred due to floods is 16, the toll is likely to increase in the flood affected regions.

He said that the state government has stepped up relief efforts as rain water receded in many parts of Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts. The government has evacuated 1.5 lakh people in Kurnool, 1.34 lakh people in Mahabubnagar, 15,000 people in Krishna and 5,000 people in Guntur district, he explained.

About 168 motor boats were pressed into service to carry out flood victims to safer places, he added. The government has started 105 relief camps in Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Krishna, Guntur and Nalgonda districts to help the flood victims, he pointed out.

At the meeting, late chief minister’s close aide and Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao said that Chief Minister K Rosaiah will conduct aerial survey of flood affected districts if weather permits him. The CM will conduct aerial survey only after getting clearance from weathermen and aviation officials, he said.