It’s time for operation relief

HYDERABAD/KURNOOL/VIJAYAWADA
Oct. 7: With floodwaters receding in most parts of the affected districts, the focus of the state administration has shifted to massive relief works to provide succour to the affected people.

The flood-hit districts are in dire need of sanitation, supply of essential commodities and normal transportation services. Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts are slowly limping back to normalcy, but the slush on the streets is making relief work difficult. District officials have engaged more than 2,000 workers just to clean it up.

Sanitation officials said about 750 tonnes of debris had been deposited by the flood waters in the city. Residents are also facing a severe shortage of essential commodities and are being forced to pay Rs 100 for an ordinary meal.

Floods in Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Krishna, Guntur, Nalgonda, Kadapa and Prakasam districts have also resulted in crop loss to the tune of Rs 1,250 crore. Meanwhile, the Centre on Wednesday said it had released in advance the second instalment of Central share for the Calamity Relief Fund of Rs 156.84 crore for Andhra Pradesh.