Top

Villagers refuse to move to safety

The villagers are asking the officials not to force them to move

Rajahmundry: Police are finding a tough task to evacuate the villagers from the vulnerable villages of severe cyclonic storm Hudhud to the relief centres in Godavari districts on Saturday. Though the authorities in both the districts are coming up with plans to evacuate several thousands of people from as many as 18 vulnerable mandals in East Godavari and five mandals including Kalla, Mogaltur, Naraspuram, Bhimavaram and Yelam-anchali in West Godavari to several relief camps, fearing that they may be affected, but the villagers are resisting their move.

Their contention is that the prevailing climatic condition was very cool which means no rainfall and gales except the sky is overcast. The villagers are asking the officials not to force them to move as they know the time to move to for safety.

On the other hand, some of the villagers who had already moved to some relief centres are returning to their villages complaining poor amenities and even food. Villagers who were placed at relief centres at Mulapeta and Uppada started returning home complaining about poor amenities.

Meanwhile, the district administration has formed several teams of officials to convince the villagers about the impending danger and move them to relief centres with an assurance to provide better amenities and food. East Godavari SP M. Ravi Prakash said, "We are facing stiff resistance from the villagers to get evacuated to the relief centres from their homes located in vulnerable to relief centres as they are saying that the prevailing climate is good and there is no need to move out from their houses. We will request them and try to convince them about the impending danger and if they still resist us, we may have to use the force for the reason that we need to protect their lives."

West Godavari DSP Raghuveera Reddy said, "Except a brief spell of rainfall, the villagers got no hint of impending storm. So they are resisting. We will use all means toshift them to safety."

( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story