Andhra Pradesh rain fury: CM Chandrababu Naidu calls Krishna river floods the 'biggest disaster' in his political career

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu termed the Krishna River floods as the "biggest disaster" in his political career. The floods, caused by heavy rainfall and breaches in the river's embankments, have left the city of Vijayawada and its surrounding areas in a state of crisis.
Naidu expressed his deep concern over the magnitude of the disaster, stating that "the human suffering and property loss is enormous." He further added that he will request the central govt to declare the floods as a national calamity.
The chief minister revealed that despite the administration's best efforts, they couldn't reach many households due to the severity of the situation. "Many people are in a pathetic condition. People with children and the elderly suffered the most. My helplessness pained me more," Naidu said, expressing his anguish.
Naidu said that from tomorrow, the relief works will be further intensified. "We have deployed 32 senior IAS officers in each of the 32 divisions and appointed in-charges for 179 village and ward secretariats. Each IAS officer is responsible for the relief works in their respective divisions," he said, adding that they are also using innovative methods to reach out to the affected people, including dropping food packets from helicopters and using drones to deliver essential supplies.
The chief minister warned officials against negligence and lethargy in relief efforts, emphasising that such behaviour will not be tolerated. He urged the officials to understand the emotional and hysterical reactions of people in distress and to act accordingly.
The chief minister expressed doubts about a possible conspiracy angle in the boats hitting the barrage and causing damage. He assured that patrolling parties have been deployed along the Repalle bund to prevent any untoward incidents. Taking on the former CM Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who said that Budameru gates were opened to protect the chief minister's house, Naidu said, "It is unfortunate that we have such people who neither have knowledge nor the willingness to learn, as former chief ministers."
Naidu said that the former chief minister is talking nonsense as he does not even know that there are no gates on Budameru. "In fact, two breaches left unattended during the YSRC regime, and those breaches caused inundation now. Leaving out the facts, he is speaking nonsense about flood mitigation, which he does not know anything about," said Naidu. "After observing the deliberate attempts being made on capital Amaravati with false propaganda, people are getting many doubts as they are known for shifting the blame on others after committing crimes," he said.
Responding to water coming into his house, Naidu said, "Water came into the houses in half of the city. What if water came into my house in an unprecedented calamity?"
As the state grapples with the aftermath of the floods, Naidu appealed to everyone to come forward and help the flood victims. He mentioned that Guthikonda Srinivas, an NRI from Florida, has donated Rs 1 crore for flood relief.