“NDRF teams, IAF were mobilised to assist the state governments in their rescue and relief efforts” : Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Additional Secretary MHA

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 6 (ANI): The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, briefed the press on the ongoing flood situation and the rescue efforts carried out by various teams in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

He highlighted the rescue and relief efforts carried out by NDRF and Indian Air Force teams, with over 350 people being rescued so far and 15,000 people evacuated in Andhra Pradesh. In Telangana, the teams have rescued 60 people and evacuated 3200 people.

“IAF have been mobilised in Telangana for rescue and relief activities. NDRF teams, so far, have rescued 350 persons and have evacuated about 15,000 persons in Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana, they have rescued 68 persons and evacuated about 3200 persons. They have also provided pre-hospital treatment to a number of affected persons and are assisting the local administration in distributing the food and relief material to the marooned families.” he said in a statement.

He said that the central forecasting agencies, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) have been issuing timely and accurate alerts on a daily basis to the states. He also highlighted the rescue efforts carried out by various agencies in both the states.

“In the night of September 1 itself, a heavy downpour happened. Under the directions of the honourable union home minister, NDRF teams and Indian Air Force Helicopters were mobilised to assist the state government in their rescue and relief efforts. Further, a central team of experts was recruited last night to visit the flood affected areas and do on-the-spot assessments, reservoir management, check issues of dam safety, and make recommendations for immediate relief from the flood. This team is led by myself and has members from NDMA, NDRF, Central Water Commission, and National Dam Safety Authority.” said the Additional Secretary.

Sanjeev Kumar Jindal also said that the team visited the site where major breaches had happened and that work is being done to fix those breaches. “Three major breaches and 16 minor breaches occurred, which led to flooding of Vijayawada town…The team visited the Prakasam barrage, where operation of 3 gates got affected…The Irrigation Dept is engaged to operationalise it by replacing with hollow steel beams filled with concrete. The team visited the Budameru diversion canal site also where 3 major breaches occurred on 1st September. The Irrigation Dept is able to plug one breach and is expected to plug the second one by this evening.” said Jindal.

On September 5, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu held a press conference and said that the situation in Vijaywada is unprecendented and there has been a lot of crop damage also in the area, with 2 lakh farmers affected.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday declared the immediate assistance of Rs 5 crore to the flood-hit districts of Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahbubabad and Suryapet.

Moreover, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is set to appeal to the central government to declare the floods in the state as a national calamity.