Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the recent torrential rain and subsequent floods in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Vijayawada, is the “biggest disaster” he has witnessed in the state in his political career.
Naidu on Monday also said he will request the central government to declare the flood in the state as a national calamity. At least 17 people have been killed in rain-related incidents and the floods.
“In my career, this is the biggest disaster…We had some events like Hudhud hurricane and Titli cyclone but compared to these, here the human suffering and property loss is the biggest,” Naidu told a press conference at the NTR district collectorate late Monday.
The collectorate in the district, one of the worst hit by the incessant rain in the state and floods, has been turned into a temporary secretariat by the chief minister.
Naidu said all reports related to the calamity will be sent to the Centre and he will request it to liberally give funds to the state to recover from the losses.
He said the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada witnessed its highest floodwater level and recorded a discharge of 11.43 lakh cusecs. The barrage was designed to withstand a maximum of 11.9 lakh cusecs of floodwater, Naidu added.
“Because of 11.43 lakh cusecs of floodwater, water crossed the Bhavanipuram road and submerged the entire Swathi theatre area (in Vijayawada), and then flowed into the Vambay colony,” he said.