Gear up for rescue operations: YSR

Hyderabad, July 3 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today instructed the officials to gear up for rescue operations in North Coastal Districts in the wake of heavy rain following deep depression in the Bay.

During an emergency review meeting with Revenue Minister, top officials and Commissioner, Disaster Management, Dr Reddy instructed them to press into service helicopters and boats for relief operations.

He asked the officials to evacuate people in low-lying areas to safer places and expedite relief operations on war-footing. ''There should not be any delay or lapse in the operations in the affected villages,'' he said.

Due to incessant and heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Nagavali River in Orissa, Thotapalli Barrage in Viziangaram district received heavy inflow breaching its flood embankment.

This had the potential of submerging the low-lying villages of Komarada and Garugubilli Mandals here and nearly 86 villages in various mandals in Srikakulam District.

The Commissioner of Disaster Management said he had already contacted the Irrigation Secretary in this regard. He had also spoken to Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and the officials concerned.

They had been instructed to mobilise the required men and machinery to repair the breach at the Thotapalli Barriage at the earliest, he added.

The Chief Minister instructed the District Collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam to evacuate the families to safer places.

Mr Reddy directed officials engaged in the relief operations to monitor the situation continously and keep him informed of the developments.

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