Airdropping of food packets continues in Nellore dt.

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE, OCT. 20. Though rain-battered Nellore district is fast limping back to normal, several areas continue to be submerged.

Traffic on National Highway was restored around midnight. It would take several hours to or even a day to clear the traffic as all along the National Highway it was an unending row of vehicles. This could be seen during an aerial survey undertaken on Saturday by the Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department and Special Officer, Nellore, Mr. B.P. Acharya, and the District Collector, Mr. G. Anantaramu. The Collector said he would be holding review meetings with various departments including medical and health. Police had been asked to assist local authorities in clearing the traffic and its personnel were busy engaged in the task.

The officials went round several parts of the district, covering Nellore, Manubolu, Gudur, Kaligiri, Anantasagaram, Somasila and other places. At Somasila, the water appeared to have receded. However, this correspondent who was with the official team, could see a number of areas along the route still submerged though water at several places had started receding. Even then, stagnated water had caused colossal damage to crops, aqua culture and houses and the losses would be very heavy.

Rescue and rehabilitation works were in full swing round the clock and till Friday, nearly 200 vehicles have been deployed and 260 teams formed consisting of 1,180 Government employees. More than 200 swimmers were engaged and more than 1.30-lakh food packets were distributed to marooned villages, train passengers and stranded vehicles on the National Highway. Eight rescue teams consisting of four officers and 60 men of 8th Madras Regiment led by Maj. Alex have been carrying out relief operations. As per latest indications, 4,077 houses have been fully damaged, while 3,893 were partly damaged in Nellore, Kavali and Gudur divisions. In addition 3,430.40 quintals of rice and 18,441 litres of kerosene have been distributed. Today also airdropping of food packets would continue from Renigunta and Nellore, with more concentration on water-logged areas and those stranded on the National Highway.

Meanwhile, the sprawling police parade grounds here became a busy landing point for helicopters to pick up relief material. The police took all earnest steps in restoring normalcy in the district and were able to save about 150 lives and conducted rescue operations in Gudur, A.S. Pet, Anantasgaram, Somasila, Chejerla and Uturkuru. They went to the places along with necessary rescue material including life jackets, said the Superintendent of Police, Mr. K. Srinivasa Reddy. In addition boats have been sent to inaccessible places. The Department has so far spent Rs. 40,000 in supplying food packets and taking all steps to restore traffic on the National Highway.

Meanwhile, work is in full swing to restore telecommunication lines. Restoration teams were sent to Chennur exchange, with 300 line capacity, near Gudur, as it was one of the most affected ones. Water was receding in the exchange area, facilitating restoration work. Some optic fibre systems were also badly hit. In Nellore, nearly 2,500 telephones have gone out of order at the main Tikkana Telephone Exchange and according to the General Manager, Nellore Circle, Mr. A. Subba Rao, more than 1,500 lines have already been restored while the rest of the lines would function from today.

Meanwhile, as per the promise of the Chief Minister during his visit to Gudur on Wednesday, the Director of Municipal Administration, Ms. Y. Srilakshmi, visited the affected areas. She said a new water drawing line for Gudur had been sanctioned.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Naidu edged out of cyberspace
Next     : Banks to the rescue of the flood-hit