Amaravati, (Samajweekly) Nellore, Prakasam and Rayalaseema districts in Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of the very severe cyclonic storm Nivar in the past four days, receiving almost 188 per cent excess rainfall.
“Due to the heavy rains that battered the state between November 23-26 over 10,000 people are taking shelter in 147 relief camps,” said an official.
According to preliminary reports, the state government estimated that crop losses occurred in 30,000 heactres in Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Prakasam districts.
As many as 16,290 heactares of paddy fields, black gram (7,362), cotton (3,571) and other crops (2,529) were damaged in the Nivar rains.
Likewise, several places suffered power interruptions, including 180 km length of roads damaged.
“Inundated houses were recorded as 664 while damaged houses were 673,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kannababu said affected people taking refuge in the relief camps will be given Rs 500 each while they return home.
The state government will also give an 80 per cent subsidy on seeds to farmers in the affected areas. Ex-gratia and compensation with regard to loss of human life and damage to property would be paid following guidelines.
Kannababu said the government has been providing input subsidy in the same season. For crop damage between June and September, subsidy was paid in October and for October crop loss, it was paid in November.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to remain alert, providing all help to people taking refuge in the relief camps.
He also instructed them to restore power supply and repair the damaged roads on a war footing.
He told officials to provide ex-gratia to the kin of people who died in the heavy rains.
On Friday, Chittoor police rescued six people stranded near a river.
“Six stranded citizens on the other side of the Pintcha river were ziplined to safety with the help of SDRF, NDRF and Chittoor police,” said an official.
Five women trapped in overflowing water from a canal in Kadapa district screamed for help were rescued by two policemen, Obulesh and Tirupatiaiah, who were on duty nearby.
Sadly, the third farmer who was waiting to be saved by Tirupati police on Thursday after being stuck on a tree in the overflowing Mallimadugu canal was found dead after being washed away.
