Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said floods have caused significant damage to infrastructure across the state, with 51 bridges, 249 culverts, and 166 tanks impacted. Forty-four houses have been completely destroyed, while 600 have suffered partial damage.
Reviewing heavy rains and flood situations in the state with district collectors through a teleconference on Tuesday, the minister said that the floods have affected about 67,000 people in 117 villages including 49,000 people in Khammam district.
The minister said the state government would support the victims. He highlighted the role of preemptive measures, which have saved 3,039 lives. He also noted that 133 rehabilitation centres have been established, accommodating over 10,500 displaced people.
Srinivas Reddy instructed officials to expedite the provision of new grants to those who lost their houses and to commence immediate repairs on partially damaged houses.
He ordered officials to expedite relief and restoration efforts on a war-footing to safeguard affected communities. Srinivas Reddy, who is actively overseeing operations, both on the field and through constant communication with district collectors, stressed the importance of timely action in these challenging times.
To prevent food and water shortages, the minister ordered the continuous provision of essential supplies. He underscored the importance of not leaving flood victims waiting for assistance and said that humanitarian efforts should prioritise the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and the disabled.
As the rains receded, Srinivas Reddy cautioned officials that the real challenge lay ahead. He urged officials to remain vigilant, particularly in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
As many as 587 roads in 32 districts have been severely damaged or cut off due to heavy rain and floods. Officials from the roads and buildings department indicated that the damage estimates were likely to increase as rain persisted and further information on the extent of the damage is gathered.
Presently, the department has estimated that `256 crore will be needed for immediate repairs to restore basic connectivity on these roads. However, for comprehensive and permanent repairs, the costs are expected to reach Rs 1,200 crore.
The department is still in the process of collecting detailed data on the full extent of the damage, particularly in the more remote and rural areas, where access has been challenging due to ongoing weather conditions.
