Central team continues flood-damage assessment in AP

Vijayawada, Nov 10 (UNI) A Central team led by Vipin Kumar Saxena, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, will visit the flood-affected areas in the Krishna district of ndhra Pradesh, on the second day today, to assess the damage caused by the cyclonic storm 'Ogni'.

The six-member team after reaching Gannavaram Airport from Hyderabad last evening branched out into three groups to visit the flood-hit areas in Krishna, Prakasam and Guntur districts, official sources said.

Later, Mr Saxena and team member Ms Nalini Pathak visited the marooned Ungutur, Gudlavalleru and Pedana villages in this district and interacted with the people.

The team would visit Gollapalem, Challapalli and Avanigadda areas before returning to Hyderabad, this evening.

The visit followed Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's aerial survey of the worst-hit south coastal districts, on November 7.

The collectors of Krishna, Guntur and joint collector of Prakasam district briefed the team on the damage.

The team would meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy tomorrow, before returning to New Delhi, sources added.

The Centre would decide the quantum of assistance, after assessing the teams's report.

It may be noted that the state government had put the flood damage at Rs 7,083 crore and pressed for a Central aid of Rs 6,191 crore, including Rs 5,000 crore for modernisation of Krishna and Godavari deltas.

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