Chandrababu Naidu orders officials to restore road, rail services in flood-hit Guntur
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit parts of Guntur district this evening even as he directed officials concerned to restore road and rail networks on a war footing.
The Chief Minister flew over Bapatla, Pedanandipadu, Krosuru and other areas and inspected the submerged crops and damaged roads.
He landed on the road at Reddygudem village and took the road route to visit some other villages in the region.
South Central Railway General Manager (Secunderabad zone) Ravindra Gupta inspected the damaged portions of railway track on the Secunderabad-Guntur section even as train services remained suspended on this route for the third day.
He interacted with villagers at Anupalem and inspected the damage caused to track in the Sattenapalli-Piduguralla section.
The local people have turned up in large numbers to help the railwaymen in carrying out the track restoration work. The General Manager also held a review meeting with railway officials to assess the damage and progress of restoration works.
Meanwhile, Chandrababu appealed to political parties to stop criticising the administration and start cooperating with the government in carrying out relief measures. "Political parties are meant to serve the people, particularly in times of crisis. It is through service that the parties can earn people's goodwill," Chandrababu remarked in a teleconference.
He directed the officials to complete enumeration of damage caused to standing crops and forward a report to the Centre for seeking financial assistance.
With heavy rains forecast for the next three days, the Chief Minister asked the government machinery to remain on high alert. "Our first priority should be to save lives and then minimise damages. It is the time everyone should shed lethargy and work with commitment," he said.
Six senior IAS officers, led by Special Chief Secretary (Finance and Revenue) Ajeya Kallam, have been deputed to Guntur district to oversee restoration works in rain-affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department is maintaining a steady level of 30 TMC ft of water in the K L Rao Sagar reservoir on river Krishna, up stream the Prakasam Barrage. While 1.62 lakh cusecs of water is flowing into the K L Rao Sagar, 1.51 lakh cusecs is being let out. But inflow into Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada has reduced to about 50,000 cusecs. Inflow into the Barrage may improve if there is more rain in the next three days.
