The Hindu : Front Page : Sonia visits flood-hit areas, consoles victims

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Thursday, Aug 10, 2006

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Sonia visits flood-hit areas, consoles victims

Special Correspondent

Centre to release Rs. 200 crores from the Calamity Relief Fund as immediate relief for State

PATIENT HEARING: UPA Chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi interacting with flood victims at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district on Wednesday. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and APCC chief K. Kesava Rao are also seen. - Photo: Ch. Vija ya Baskar

HYDERABAD: UPA Chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday took up a heli-hop tour of the flood-ravaged areas of Andhra Pradesh and consoled the affected persons at the relief camps.

Rounding off the day-long visit, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who accompanied her, announced the Centre's decision to release Rs. 200 crores from the Calamity Relief Fund for providing immediate relief to the people affected by floods.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the Centre would consider extending assistance for the State Government's plan to complete the bunding of the entire 480-km stretch of Godavari river course to protect people from recurring floods. He was responding to Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's request. Ms. Gandhi did not make any public statement during her tour.

In East Godavari district, she was informed about the impending rainfall in the catchment areas and a possible rise in the Godavari again in the next 48 hours. After getting this piece of information, she advised Dr. Reddy to evacuate people living in the vulnerable areas to safer places.

Ms. Gandhi's first stop was Amalapuram in E. Godavari district. She was visibly moved by the plight of the flood victims of Konaseema accommodated at a relief camp in a college.

A few of them complained to her about lack of food at the camp. The Chief Minister, who showed her around a photo exhibition on the flood damage, explained to Ms. Gandhi that 250 villages were marooned in the Konaseema area alone.

The AICC president then got into a helicopter for an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Khammam district.

She got down at the temple town of Bhadrachalam and interacted with flood victims. Most of the people here appealed to her to help in the construction of a bund around the town covering newer colonies. She moved on to Mote, a village on the other side of the Godavari, and despite getting drenched in the rain, shared the concern of the people.

Mr. Patil said the State Government had "done well" in rushing help to the flood victims and assured the Centre's support.

While Rs. 200 crores was meant for immediate relief, the State could prepare plans for permanent rehabilitation measures like bunding which was the "correct" thing to do. These plans would be examined by the Planning Commission and the National Disaster Management Authority.

Describing Ms. Gandhi's visit to the flood-hit areas as a "big morale booster", he said the floods were the second worst in the last 53 years.

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