Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Many show no interest in moving to relief camps

VIJAYAWADA: All of them knew that the Budameru karakatta would breach any moment. But, none of them wanted to move to safer places. Many of the residents were reluctant to move to rehabilitation centres, despite fervent appeals made by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials and city police.

Though some people shifted their valuables and moved to safer places, many chose to stay put in their houses. “We know that the karakatta will breach any moment. But, we have to protect out valuables. We will move out if water gushes out,” said Lakshmi, a resident of L.B.S. Nagar.

And, she was not alone, who chose to stay put at their houses. Bhavani, another resident, said, “This situation would not have arisen had the corporation constructed a karakatta. Now, they are asking us to vacate. Who will protect our belongings?” Her neighbour, Bhavani, supported her saying, “We have been pleading with the officials to supply sand bags since yesterday. None heeded our requests, and they expressed helplessness.”

The local corporators, including V. Varalakshmi and M. Satyavathi, made unsuccessful attempts to convince them. “The people are not willing to move out hoping that the water will recede,” 57th division corporator Ms. Varalakshmi said, adding, “We are very much worried as more than 1,000 families are living here.”

They made all vain attempts to fortify the karakatta with available sand bags and construction debris since Sunday morning. The situation was out of hands by the evening. The karakatta breached at many places by 4.30 p.m. The Budameru floodwater entered the houses in L.B.S. Nagar and Sundaraiah Nagar located near Pipula Road Centre. The condition is no different at Andhra Prabha Colony, Subba Raju Nagar and Nandamuri Nagar.

Nearly 300 to 400 people were still there in these colonies, said Ch. Babu Rao, CPI (M) floor leader in the VMC, adding, “We are persuading people in Andhra Prabha Colony and other areas to shift at least women, children and aged should move out to safer places.”

By evening the VMC had to rope in boats of AP Tourism Development Corporation to ferry them out. “We expected that the people from these colonies will be marooned in floodwater.

And, hence arranged two boats to rescue them,” said P.S. Pradyumna, VMC Commissioner. Entire Circle-II staff were stationed at Urban Health Centre in Pakistan Colony to take up rehabilitation works. Food, medical and water facilities were arranged at the camps, he added.

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