Pawan Kalyan directs officials to remain on high alert

Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan directed the Kakinada district administration to remain on high alert for another two days as heavy rains continued across the district under the influence of Cyclone Arnab. Speaking to Kakinada Collector MN Harendhira Prasad over the phone on Thursday, Pawan Kalyan reviewed the prevailing situation and instructed the administration to maintain round-the-clock surveillance in low lying and flood-prone areas until the rains completely subside. The Deputy Chief Minister said arrangements should be kept ready to shift people from inundated areas to safer locations whenever necessary. Special relief centres should be opened in areas facing a flood threat, he said.

The Collector informed Pawan Kalyan that the district had received an average rainfall of 117.6 mm over the past two days. Trees had fallen across roads at 15 locations and were cleared immediately with the assistance of fire services personnel. Preliminary estimates indicated that crops had been damaged over 1,885 hectares across the district. A special control room has been established to monitor the situation round the clock, with different departments reviewing developments continuously, the Collector said. He added that the situation was currently under control. Pawan Kalyan directed officials to keep a close watch on low lying areas, flood-prone villages and colonies in view of the continuing heavy rain and the possibility of sudden flooding. He also instructed the authorities to continuously monitor water levels in the Yeleru, Tandava, Pampa and Subba Reddy Sagar reservoirs and issue advance warnings to people in downstream areas whenever required. He asked officials to undertake field-level inspections immediately after the rains recede and assess crop losses. A detailed report should be submitted to the government and steps taken to ensure timely assistance to affected farmers, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the authorities to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea until the weather system completely weakens and that warnings are strictly enforced. He sought regular reports on the situation in flood-prone areas along the Suddagedda stream in Pithapuram constituency. The district administration should remain fully alert until normal conditions are restored and take immediate action wherever required, Pawan Kalyan said.

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