Central team to tour flood-hit AP for three days

Hyderabad, Aug 17 (UNI) A seven-member central team will extensively tour the areas affected by the recent floods in Andhra Pradesh for three days from tomorrow, even as water level in Godavari and other rivers once again started rising today in the wake of a fresh spell of rains under the influence of a depression.

Giving the details of the visit of the team to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at a review meeting here, Diasaster Management Commissioner Preeti Sudan said the Central delegation would branch out into three teams.

After viewing a photo exhibition of the flood ravage, the team 'A' led by Mr Vipin Kumar Saxena, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry will make an aerial survey of the worst-hit East and West Godavari districts, where over three lakh people were affected following breaching of embankments of Godavari tributaries Gautami and Vasishta Godavari and interact with officials, according to an official release here.

The visit comes close on the heels of the aerial survey by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and the Centre sanctioning an immediate assistance of Rs 400 crore for relief work.

The team 'B' will visit the North Coastal Andhra, where Vamsadara and Nagavalli were in spate following widespread rains in neighbouring Orissa in the wake of the present and earlier depressions in the Bay of Bengal, while the third team will make an aerial survey of Khammam and Adilabad affected by floods in Godavari and Penganga following heavy discharge of water from Maharashtra.

On returning to Hyderabad, after a wrap-up meeting, the team members will interact with the Chief Minister before leaving for New Delhi, the release added.

UNI SM ROY YA DB2011