HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Dr.K.Rosaiah directed all the District Collectors and Irrigation officials to take up relief and rehabilitation works on a war footing and to provide succor to affected population due to down pour in the catchment areas of Godavari districts.

The Chief Minister who is on tour of Anantpur District held a tele conference with  the Chief Secretary S.V.Prasad and the Commissioner, Disaster Management, Dr.T.Radha on the latest situation emerging out of heavy rainfall in the nine districts of Godavari basin. The Chief Minister also enquired about the relief and rehabilitation activities in the rain affected areas of Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, West Godavari, East Godavari, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Nizamabad. He asked  Chief Secretary to continuously monitor the situation and issue necessary instructions to the District Collectors to evacuate people living in low lying areas  and also the people stranded in water logged roads and fields.

The Chief Minister also enquired with Major irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah  about the inflows into the main reservoirs in the State and to take necessary steps  for maintenance of  irrigation systems. The Chief Minister was informed by officials that in all 11405 families in 400 villages of 108 mandals in nine districts were affected by the non-stop rainfall. In all a total population of 68,241 were affected of which 14,508 persons were shifted to relief camps.

The officials said that so far  16,793  food packets, 27,152 water sachets were distributed and 60 medical camps were organized to treat the affected population. They said agricultural crops in 30204  hectares were affected, and  sixty numbers of roads  to the extent of  9.3 kms were also damaged.

The officials informed that there were damages to 1631 irrigation sources. Number of houses fully damaged were 173, number of houses partially damaged were 1492. Number of live stock dead was 271.  As part of the rescue and relief operations the officials had deployed seven launches, eight boats and six other vehicles to provide relief to the affected people. In all ten persons had died in the heavy rainfall and the overflow in the Godavari River since last night.

Dr.T.Radha, Commissioner for Disaster Management informed the Chief Minister that water level at  Bhadrachalam (danger level at  53.00Ft) at 3.00 PM  was 59.7 feet  and reported to be steady  and that the third warning has been issued  at Bhadrachalam. Similarly at Dowleswaram with a danger level of 17.75 feet the water was rising to 16.15 ft. at 2.00 PM and said to be rising and second warning issued.

As per the forecast by the Central Water Commission the water levels were likely to become steady at Bhadrachalam and other catchment areas of Godavari River and fall after midnight of today

In West Godavari district   13,113 persons of 4035 families living in 30 mandals were affected. Nearly 225 food packets were distributed to 113 persons living in relief camps and five medical camps were organized and 500 water sachets were given.  In Adilabad district  11,048 persons of  3212 families  living in 101 villages of 30 mandsls were affected  in the rain impact . Seventeen medical camps were organized  for 970 persons  shifted to relief camps and supplied food packets  In Khammam district  7482 persons living in  49 villages of  13 mandals  were affected . Twenty nine relief camps were organized for   their benefit and food packets were also supplied . In East Godavari district 4393 persons of 756 families  were affected  in  ten villages of five mandals. The district authorities  distributed  4865 food packets  and organized   six medical camps for their benefit .  In Warangal district  30,000 persons  of 500 families  30 villages  in  10 mandals were affected by rain havoc. Authorities disbursed 2000 food packets and 2500 water sachets and organized   two medical camps for the benefit of the affected people. In Srikakulam district   in the Vamshadhara and Navagalli  river basin   1355  persons of  416  families  living in  174 villages were affected  .Authorities organized   medical camps for benefit of the affected persons   and provided them food and water sachets..

The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to undertake repairs to damages to roads and communications  in  Bhadarachalam and other places  on a war footing. Dr Rosaiah wanted the roads to be cleared immediately by deploying more men and materials and communications restored at the earliest.