ANINTER-MINISTERIALteam from the Central Government on Thursday began its visit of the flood-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh. The teamheadedbySanjeev Kumar Jindal visited Vijayawada, the worst affected place, to estimate the losses and destruction, said an official press release. The Central team visited the State Emergency Operations Centre in the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) office in Tadepalli, where officials explained about the torrential rains and floods. Later, the officials also visited Prakasam Barrage, which was recently hit by three large drifting boats,damagingaconcrete beam. As the flood waters began to recede at many places here, personnel of the Vijayawada civic body are busily engaged in sanitation work and also restoringwater supply, an official said on Thursday.

 

However, Vijayawada MunicipalCommissionerH M Dhyanachandra said people mustrefrainfromdrinking the restored municipal tap water at the moment as it was not potable. “Today, we are focusing on municipal water resumptionandsanitation. By today evening, the water supply will be restored. But they (people) cannot drink water because there will be a lot of silting,” Dhyanachandra said. He said the civic body will launchacampaigntodissuade peoplefromdrinkingtapwater.

 

On Wednesday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said water supplied by themunicipalityshouldnotbe used for the first two days at least as it has to be tested for quality, considering its muddied nature due to the un precedented deluge. He said the authorities will inform people after carrying out tests. CROPS IN 1.8 LAKH HADAMAGED: SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN: FLOODS in Andhra Pradesh damaged crops in 1.8 lakh hectares (ha), and 2 lakh farmers have been impacted as per initial estimate, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh ChouhansaidonThursdayand assuredofprovidinghelpfrom the Central Government. Chouhan, who is on a twodayvisittoAndhraPradeshand Telangana to assess the flood situation,said:“Thecropshave suffered a lot of damage. Flowers are cultivated here, turmeric is cultivated, all the crops have been damaged”. The assessmentprocesshas begun, and NDRF teams and Agriculture Department officials are evaluating the damage, he said, adding that “after completingthedamageassessment work, the Central Government will provide all possible support”.