Union Minister Visits Flood-Hit Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Relief Efforts Underway

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits flood-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He interacts with farmers and surveys damages. Rescue and relief operations by NDRF, IAF, and Navy are ongoing. Financial assistance and support measures are discussed by officials and Chief Ministers.

As flood havoc continues in Andhra Pradesh, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is on his second day of a two-day visit to flood-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is interacting with affected farmers in Vijayawada and will later visit Khammam. Chouhan is also scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of affected areas in Khammam, Telangana, and interact with locals about the losses they faced. Later, he will hold a meeting with ministers and officers of Telangana in Hyderabad.

On Thursday, Chouhan, along with State Minister Nara Lokesh, interacted with locals in Vijayawada to assess the situation. Following this, Chouhan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a press conference, describing the situation in Vijayawada as unprecedented, with significant crop damage affecting 2 lakh farmers. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Additional Secretary at the MHA, reported that NDRF teams have rescued 350 persons and evacuated around 15,000 people in Andhra Pradesh, and 68 persons and approximately 3,200 people in Telangana. NDRF teams have also provided pre-hospital treatment and are assisting local administration in distributing food and relief materials to affected families.

IAF and Navy helicopters have executed 65 sorties, delivering around 71,000 kgs of food and relief materials to the affected population in Andhra Pradesh. The MHA has constituted Inter-Ministerial Central Teams which will visit the affected areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for on-the-spot damage assessments and will recommend additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who reviewed the situation at the Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority, emphasized that protecting lives and property is a top priority.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan announced that drones are being used to provide food and water to flood-affected areas in the state. He also donated Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).

(With inputs from agencies.)