PM To Inspect Cyclone-Affected Areas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inspect the cyclone-affected areas in Visakhapatnam at 1:15 pm on October 14 through an aerial survey.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has asked for adhoc relief of Rs 2,000 crores. He has also requested the Centre to declare this as a national calamity.

5 teams have been deployed for relief and rehabilitation efforts, a government source said. For health, an emergency team led by L V Subramanyam and Manmohan Singh will monitor efforts. Sanjay Jaju will monitor sanitation measures while S P Tucker will lead a team to monitor restoration works on power lines.

To monitor technology, satellite feeds and remote sensing images in order to estimate crop/property losses through satellite technology, J Satyanarayana has been appointed. For roads, drinking water and infrastructure restoration, Ajay Jain and Sam Bob have been appointed. These measures will be taken up on a war-footing.

Given that relief and rehabilitation centres have over 5 lakh people in them, the Chief Minister said that 50 tons of material from Vijayawada and 50 tons from Rajahmundry have been air-lifted to provide food for people in these camps.

Each affected family will receive 25 kg rice, 1 kg sugar and 5 litres of kerosene.

For fisherman and weavers whose work has been affected, 5 litres of kerosene, 50 kg rice, and 1 kg sugar will be provided.

Communication systems have been snapped, with 80% of lines cut off. To restore the communications network, diesel transportation will be taken care of by the police department.

By Monday night, the government is trying to restore all the telecom systems.

Enumeration to estimate crop loss and property loss has begun, the government source said. 45,000 electric poles have been ordered for to restore power lines immediately.

Of these, 2,000 poles have reached Vizag, and restoration works are already being carried out.

Nearly 500 field staff, 100 engineers are working day and night to restore normalcy. Works are on to restore the Vizag airport by Monday night.

People can donate for the cyclone relief effort to:

Account name: AP CM Relief Fund
SBI account: 33913634404
IFSC Code: SBIN0002724
Branch Name: SBI Treasury Branch, Gowliguda, Hyderabad

If you want to send a cheque, send it to Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department, L-Block, AP Secretariat, Hyderabad. (INN)