Visakhapatnam suburbs left out of relief zone

Visakhapatnam: While relief and restoration works going on in the city, suburbs of Vizag are still reeling under the devastation and shock of cyclone Hudhud.

Uprooted electric poles still adorn many areas like Sathivanipalem, Pedagantyada, Agnampudi, Pendurthi and parts of Gajuwaka.

All these areas fall under the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation limits. Such is the situation in suburbs as compared to areas in the city limits where power is being supplied at nights since two days. Neither the government officials nor any voluntary organisations and individuals seem to be interested in taking up the hard work of reaching out to these suburbs.

Asdullah Khan, a resident of Ahmed Nagar in Sathivanipalem said with tears in his eyes, “We have been calling up electricity department officials but to no avail as they rudely tell us that we stay on city outskirts and should not expect power to be resto-red so soon. My father is a diabetes patient and is dependent on insulin which needs to be stored in refrigerator. With no power I have to travel about eight kilometres to and fro everyday for insulin as I store it at a relative’s place. My father cannot be moved there as he is too old. No government official, not even our MLA bothered to visit us.”

A resident of Prashanti nagar in Pendurthi says, “Why is it that we are being discriminated and the government foc-us is on restoring power in the city limits? It has been six days since the cyclone hit but even electric poles have not been erected in our area.” Drinking water is also a major issue. However, packaged water cans are available at affordable price in these areas.