Date:01/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/01/stories/2007110161531000.htm

Andhra Pradesh

CM to conduct aerial survey today

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Nellore district, which has accounted for at least 25 deaths, on Thursday.

He will leave Hyderabad in a helicopter at 11 a.m. after the State Formation Day celebrations and see for himself the damage caused by the heavy rain. He will also review relief operations with the Nellore district Collector.

Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in the flood-affected areas, especially in Nellore and Kadapa districts, due to stagnant water. A total of 531 villages remained cut off in the four districts, affecting nearly 1.17 lakh people. Met Department officials forecast that isolated heavy rain would continue in Coastal Andhra and Telangana on Thursday.

Relief camps

Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao later told reporters that food packets and water sachets were being supplied to the cut off villages and in places where supply was not possible, they were being dropped by helicopters.

In all, 123 relief camps were opened with 634,433 people evacuated from inundated or vulnerable areas.

Reports received here said several habitations in Allur, Bochi, Bogolu and Kavali mandals in Nellore were marooned.

In Prakasam district, 18 families were trapped in the swollen Mutteru stream near Singarayakonda but they were all rescued.