Pawan Reviews Flood Situation, Announces 1 Crore Aid to CM Relief Fund

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has announced a personal contribution of '1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, towards flood relief in the state.

He will meet chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and hand over the cheque on Wednesday.

Pawan Kalyan, along with Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, reviewed the Vijayawada flood situation with the principal secretary (revenue) and other officials at the state disaster management commissioner’s office on Tuesday. He repeated the charge that the “negligence and failure” of the previous YSRC government in carrying out maintenance works at Budameru led to the floods.

He said, “The Jagan-led government did not place any emphasis on the water body maintenance. After the floods recede, an action plan will be discussed for developing flood canals.”

A major calamity has been averted by God’s grace in the Krishna river. If the flood-level had increased by another 15,000 cusecs, a tragedy beyond words would have unfolded, he said.

Pawan Kalyan said the state government deployed 262 special teams to rescue people from flood-affected areas and opened 176 relief camps.

When asked why he did not visit the flood-affected areas, Pawan Kalyan said officials advised him that such visits would adversely impact the relief operations on the ground. However, the entire Panchayat Raj department has been engaged in the flood works, he noted.

The deputy CM condoled the death of 12 persons due to the floods in the state. He appealed to the people in distress to call the toll-free numbers 112, 1070 and 18004250101 for immediate assistance.