12 people killed in Andhra Pradesh floods, CM to conduct aerial survey

Police said that three APSRTC buses were struck in the flood water at Nandaluru, Mandavalli and Aakapadu villages in Rajampet division of the district.

The Cheyyuru reservoir breach resulted in the three buses submerged in the flood water.

Some of the passengers in one of the buses were found washed away in the swirling flood water.

Seven bodies were fished out at Gudluru village, three bodies were retrieved at Rayavaram village and two were fished out at Madanapalle village.

The officials were trying to establish whether they were the bus passengers or belonged to a nearby village.

However, the fire brigade personnel rescued the passengers of the other two buses.

The death toll is likely to increase as some others are still missing”, police said. YSR Kadapadistrict is the worst affected by the heavy rains and floods.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy would conduct an aerial survey in Kadapadistrict on Saturday to assess the situation, an official release said here on Saturday

Chief Minister Reddy expressed deep condolences to the families of the people lost their lives due to heavy rains and directed the officials to provide them a compensation of Rs 5 lakh on war footing.

He said the state government would come to the rescue of the people hit by heavy rains and assured them all help.

The Chief Minister said he had directed the district collectors of Nellore, Chittoor and YSR districts to be liberal and compassionate towards the needs of the people.

He said two naval helicopters were dispatched to Anantapur and YSR districts each for rescue operations and discussions are being held to press five more naval helicopters into service.

He said teams were formed to access the damage to crops and added that crop enumeration will be done once the rains recede. “Seeds will be provided at 80% discount to ground nut farmers whose crops were damages to heavy rains in Chittoor, Anantapur and YSR districts and at 80% discount to paddy farmers in Nellore district," the chief minister said.

The Chief Minister also assured that the crop loss of rabi season would be given in the same season before onset of kharif.

Earlier, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with the district collectors of Nellore, Chittoor and YSR districts and alerted the officials to be vigilant.

The State Government has appointed three special officers for Nellore, Chittoor and YSR districts each. Buditi Rajashekar has been appointed as special officer for Nellore, Pradhyumna for Chittoor and Shashi Bushan Kumar for YSR district, to monitor relief measures.

The officials said the depression has crossed the Tamil Nadu coast triggering heavy rains in Nellore, Anantapur, Chittoor and YSR districts.

The Chief Minister instructed the officials to provide Rs 2,000 to each family affected by floods and said the money will be useful to mend their houses. He directed the officials to provide quality food, safe drinking water and take measures to prevent spread of diseases.

He instructed the officials to support pilgrims who were stuck in Tirumala due to heavy rains. He instructed the officials to fix the ponds and restore power on war footing.