VISAKHAPATNAM: After establishing the NDRF’s Regional Response Centre (RRC) in Vizag, the personnel stationed here are on a first rescue operation for a natural calamity in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. Three teams — comprising 35 personnel each — were sent to Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Rajahmundry, said Vizag RRC centre in-charge D.M. Singh. “Earlier, the personnel housed here took part in various rescue operations. But, this is the rescue operation in flood situations in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram with the NDRF personnel sent from Vizag RRC,” Mr Singh said.
NDRF teams trained in disaster management practices including earthquakes, cyclones, floods, building collapses are summoned during various disasters across the country. “The teams here have been conducting mock drills in various vulnerable areas of north coastal Ap to ensure that people can respond when they face natural calamities or any sort of accidents. We proved ourselves during the Kuneru rail tragedy by saving hundreds of lives,” said the company commander.
More districts get into excess rainfall category:
Incidentally, Vizianagaram where many villages on the Nagavali river bank submerged due to flash flood has received deficient rainfall with 23 per cent less than its normal range as on Sunday in the monsoon season. The Srikakulam rainfall amount has however improved with the recent showers. It received 430 per cent excess shower on Monday with 25.4 mm against its 4.8 normal rainfall.
On the other hand, AP, according to the AP State Development Planning Society real time rainfall recording data, has experienced 6.7% excess rainfall than its normal range so far. The normal rainfall in the state as on July 17 should stand at 176.5 mm but it has got 187.9mm till 8pm. Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur have jumped to excess rainfall category.
On Monday, the major rainfall contributions came from Vatsavai, Kambhampadu and Jaggayyapeta mandals of Krishna and Gara mandal of Srikakulam. The Gara mandal received 52 mm rainfall till 7 pm. The depression over the Bay of Bengal as predicted is expected to improve the rainfall across the state.
Trains cancelled, divert due to rain:
Continuation of heavy rains in Odisha and flood water flowing above the danger levels, four trains running on the Vizianagaram and Rayagada route cancelled and diverted. Pair of trains between Visakhapatnam and Korba, Sambalpur and Nanded were cancelled. The trains which were to run on Vizianagaram-Rayagada-Titlagarh and Raipur route were diverted.
Tirupati-Bilaspur Express leaving Tirupati on July 16 will run in diverted route via Vizianagaram-Bhubaneswar-Angul-Sambalpur Road-IB. Yesvantpur-Tata Express which left Yesvantpur on July 16 will run in diverted route via Vizianagaram, Khurda Road, Bhadrak, Tata instead of Vizianagaram-Rayagada-Titlagarh and Sambalpur Hatia-Ernakulam express leaving Hatia on 17 July will run in diverted route via Jharsuguda, Bilaspur, Nagpur and Ballharsha instead of Jharsuguda, Titlagarh, Vizianagaram Ahmedabad-Puri Express which will run in diverted route via Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Bhubaneswar, Khurda road instead of Titlagarh, Rayagada, Vizianagaram.
