Date:25/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/25/stories/2005072501251400.htm

Back YSR wants special teams for monsoon-hit areas

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , July 24

WITH the monsoon rains being widespread across the State, the Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has directed the Revenue, Municipal, Medical & Health, Panchayat Raj and police officials to be more vigilant against possible damages.

Reviewing the situation at a high level meeting with the officials, he wanted the deployment of special teams to alert people to be cautious while crossing streams. The teams should also ensure the pumping out of water in all the inundated areas and evacuate people wherever it is necessary.

The Chief Minister particularly instructed the electricity authorities to deploy survey teams to repair and replace all the damaged installations and poles that would pose the danger of causing electrocution. The Commissioner, Disaster Management, informed that at least four persons died due to a wall collapse and drowning in Warangal and Kurnool districts. About 254 houses were damaged in Kurnool district alone. Besides breaches in tanks, the inundation of low-lying areas has been reported from many parts of the State.