GRIEF STRICKEN: A woman, who lost all her belongings in the flood, wails at Niviri near Parvathipuram of Vizianagaram district on Tuesday.— Photo: K.R. Deepak

HYDERABAD: The Government on Tuesday announced a relief package for flood-affected families in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts even as the Nagavali and Vamsadhara continued to be in spate although the weather remained dry in North Coastal Andhra on Tuesday.

The package, which was cleared by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy while reviewing the situation, provides for immediate release of 20 kg of rice and 5 litres of kerosene to each family, and allows enhanced compensation against damaged dwellings -- Rs. 2,000 for a pucca house, Rs. 1,200 for a kutcha one and Rs. 800 for damage up to 15 per cent.

Relief camps

All evacuated families, now in different relief camps, will get Rs. 500 each for purchase of clothes and utensils. Ex gratia of Rs. 50,000 will be paid under Apathbandu scheme against a death. Only one casualty has been reported so far officially. This death was reported from Srikakulam district where villages in 23 mandals are waterlogged.

Debrabrata Kantha, Commissioner, Disaster Management, said Collectors had been asked to assess crop damage so that input subsidy could be released to farmers and steps taken to restore drinking water and electricity supply and repair roads.

A decision was taken to release of Rs. 2 crores to fill the breaches in Thotapalli reservoir.

Meanwhile, the swollen Nagavali and Vamsadhara that flow on either side of Srikakulam town ran on to several low-lying areas in the town, closing access even to the Collectorate. The rivers fell only to rise again inch-by-inch, with huge quantities of rain run-off joining them at several points. Nagavali crossed the danger mark in the town due to breaches in Vamsadhara embankments.

Telanagana is in for heavy rain now. According to a forecast issued by the State Met Office, torrential rainfall is likely at many places in the region on Wednesday. Already, Asifabad received heavy rainfall of 19 cm, Sirpur 17 cm, Adilabad 12 cm, Kaleswaram 10 cm and Utnoor 8 cm.

The monsoon turned active over Telangana while dry weather prevailed in Rayalaseema. Without losing its vigour, the depression came closer to Raipur in Chattisgarh. It is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction and weaken gradually.

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