Lagatar24 Desk
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is taking an active role in managing what he describes as the “biggest disaster” of his political career. Just two months after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) swept the state assembly elections, Andhra Pradesh is grappling with severe floods that have caused widespread devastation. Naidu, known as the “CEO CM,” has been wading through knee-deep water, using boats and bulldozers to visit flood-affected areas and oversee relief efforts personally.
On Sunday night, the 74-year-old Chief Minister camped at the Vijayawada collectorate and set out the following morning to assess the situation in flood-hit areas. Visuals from his visits show him moving through flooded streets, interacting with residents, and instructing officials to expedite relief operations.
In a public statement, Naidu emphasized his commitment to prioritizing the needs of the people. “Today, I suspended an officer in Jakkampudi for negligence in his duties. I will take serious action if the ministers also do not work effectively during this flood situation. I’m very clear that people are my priority, and we must act with humanity,” he stated.
Naidu also addressed the state through a message on X, assuring citizens that he is personally overseeing rescue and relief efforts. “My Dear People, I have personally seen and heard the immense plight of #VijayawadaFloods victims. We’ll brave these floods and overcome them together. I’m personally monitoring the situation in Vijayawada and overseeing rescue and relief operations,” he said. He also highlighted the combined efforts of the state government and central government in accelerating relief operations and restoring normalcy.
Innovative Relief Efforts: Drones and Choppers
In a bid to enhance relief operations, the Andhra Pradesh government has deployed drones to deliver food and essential supplies to areas cut off by the floods. Nara Lokesh, Naidu’s son and a state minister, praised the use of drones for making the distribution of relief materials more efficient. According to government reports, 16 drones have been utilized to deliver over 10,000 food packets so far. Additionally, six Air Force helicopters and 150 boats have been arranged to rescue stranded residents.
Appeal for Central Assistance
Amidst the flood crisis, Naidu has also sought additional financial support from the central government. He has urged the Centre to declare the floods a national calamity, emphasizing the scale of human suffering and property loss, which he considers greater than past disasters like the Hudhud hurricane and Titli cyclone.
Political Blame Game
The floods have also sparked a political controversy, with former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) blaming the TDP government for the calamity, calling it a “man-made disaster.” Reddy criticized the state government for allegedly ignoring an extreme rainfall alert issued by the weather department on August 28, leading to unpreparedness and delayed evacuations.
Reddy further accused the government of diverting water from the Budameru rivulet to protect Naidu’s residence, resulting in flooding in other areas. In response, Naidu dismissed these claims, attributing the disaster to the previous YSRCP government’s failure to address a critical breach in the infrastructure.
As the flood situation continues to unfold, both the state government and opposition parties remain at odds over the handling of the crisis, while efforts to assist affected communities persist.
