Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy continued to visit flood-affected areas in Mahabubabad district on Tuesday, the second day of his tour to rain-hit places.
According to official sources, Reddy stayed overnight in Khammam after visiting several places in the town accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues.
At least 16 people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents as torrential rains lashed Telangana.
The state government on Monday put the damage at ₹5,000 crore as per preliminary estimates and sought an immediate assistance of ₹2,000 crore from the Centre.
Reddy also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Telangana to inspect the widespread damage caused by the heavy rains over the past three days.
CM, who announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of those who were killed in the rain-related incidents, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the rain-hit areas and to declare the floods as a national calamity.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu for his assistance to flood victims.
However, he criticised Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, including KT Rama Rao, for their criticism of the government’s relief efforts, urging political leaders to avoid mudslinging during such crises. He emphasized the relentless efforts of his Cabinet colleagues, who have been working tirelessly since the onset of the rains.
Reddy held a meeting with ministers and officials at Suryapet as part of his visit to rain-hit areas on Monday. He also held a review with ministers and officials at Khammam.
He said crops in lakhs of acres suffered damage, as per preliminary information, despite the government’s efforts to prevent loss of life and damage to property.
An official release on Monday night said over 100 relief camps were organised, providing shelter to more than 4,000 people.
As per initial estimates, the damage to roads was about ₹2,362 crore, while crop loss (in 4,15,000 acres) was ₹415 crore, it said.
The incessant rainfall since Saturday last caused inundation of low-lying areas, damage to agricultural crops and disruption of the state's rail and road links with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
State Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, who held a teleconference with officials on Monday, asked Collectors of 11 districts to be alert in view of forecast of heavy rains during the next 24 hours.
She told the Collectors to make plans in advance to avoid any loss of life or property.
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