Andhra Pradesh rain fury: CM Chandrababu Naidu leads flood relief works from the front

VIJAYAWADA: Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is often called the CEO of the state rather than the chief minister because of his working style. In the ongoing flood relief works in Vijayawada, Naidu displayed his traits of a CEO by leading the administration from the front. He visited all flood-affected areas more than once and assured affected people of all help.He stayed in Vijayawada for the last 48 hours, overseeing the relief measures and coordinating with other govts in pooling the resources required for the evacuation of people.
Naidu pulled all the strings to scale up rescue and rehabilitation works. He spoke to prime minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah for additional NDRF teams, Navy helicopters, and other material needed. The 74-year-old Naidu started visiting flood-affected areas from 8.30 am on Sunday and continued monitoring the works till 2 am on Monday by going on NDRF boats. On Monday, he started off at 7 am and continued visiting people affected by floods.
Following his discussion with the prime minister and home minister, as many as 110 speed boats arrived at Vijayawada from various places, 7 Navy helicopters, and 10 additional NDRF teams have been brought from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Odisha.
The chief minister held multiple reviews on the setting up of rehabilitation camps, the supply of food and water to stranded people, and on assessing the flood situation. He reviewed the inflows into various streams and rivulets on a real-time basis and guided the officials to take up the works needed to minimise the damage. He asked them to bring in all tractors, earth movers, and other vehicles useful in relief works. He ordered the procurement of milk and water from every outlet in the city and to prepare food in all hotels and other facilities. Akshaya Patra Foundation alone prepared 1.5 lakh food packets. The district collectors of neighbouring Eluru, West Godavari, and East Godavari were also involved in sending food and other material for flood victims.
Naidu turned his caravan into a residence and Vijayawada Collectorate into a makeshift secretariat. The entire administration was put on relief works. Naidu appreciated the hard work done by the municipal administration, revenue, electricity, irrigation, police, and disaster management departments in carrying out relief works round the clock.
On Monday, major concerns were raised over the safety of Prakasam Barrage with four boats struck in the flood gates causing damage to the concrete structure. There have been doubts expressed over a possible conspiracy behind the incident as to whether it was perpetrated by someone. Naidu said that the first priority for the govt is to save the lives of people and everything else can wait for taking action.