NDRF and Central forces provides food, water to flood-affected areas in Vijayawada using helicopters

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 3 (ANI): Amid heavy rain fall and flood situation in Andhra Pradesh, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team along with Central forces and district officials, provided food, drinking water, and other essential items to the flood-affected areas in Vijayawada through helicopters.

This comes due to the heavy rainfall caused by the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, which has led to flooding in several areas of Vijayawada. The water level at Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada has also increased due to incessant rainfall in the region.

Meanwhile Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh said that the state government Garu, has for the first time ever deployed drones to deliver relief materials and food flood-affected people. This has made relief operations more efficient and quick.

Earlier, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday conducted a review over heavy rain fall and flood situation at the Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority office and said that protecting the lives and property of people is his first priority.

Andhra Pradesh has witnessed major devastation with heavy rainfall for the past three days recorded at 29 cm to 34 cm on a single resembling like cloud burst hitting normal life. Traffic flow on national highways came to a halt with overflowing of flood water and large number of train services were cancelled.

As a result of Budameru floods several areas including Singhnagar, Nandamuri Nagar and other low lying areas were submerged within hours forcing nearly two lakh people to take shelter on the terraces of their buildings.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to supply food and water to flood victims at first. With the personal intervention of the Chief Minister, officials swung into action and made arrangements to distribute food packets till late last night by venturing into flood affected regions through boats.

Chief Minister Naidu also contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised them of the present flood crisis and requested them to treat this flood devastation as natural calamity.

As per the request of the CM, the central government responded immediately and started deploying 10 NDRF teams, 40 power boats and six helicopters to rescue people from flood affected regions.

In a post on social media platform X the CM said “I visited the flood affected areas in Vijayawada on the second day. I have personally supervised the assistance provided to the affected people. I assured them. The power boats sent by the Center and the arrangements made by the state government have increased the speed of relief operations. Public safety is our responsibility. All efforts are being made to bring people out of this unexpected calamity as soon as possible. I wish the affected people to be brave”.

He repeatedly appealed to people that the state government will come to their rescue. Pained by the plight of people, Chandrababu Naidu appealed to officials to coordinate with people by adopting humanitarian approach to increase confidence levels of people at the hour of crisis.