Hudhud fallout: Pvt cos, temple trusts channel help to Vizag

Rajahmundry (AP), Oct 15: With Visakhapatnam grappling with the grim aftermath of cyclone Hudhud which struck the Andhra coast on Sunday, private companies and temple trusts in East Godavari district are chipping in to extend help to their neighbours in distress.

While a TDP MP from Bhimavaram has claimed to have contributed Rs 25 lakh, a few private companies and PSUs like ONGC have also loosened their purse strings to help people through the district administration.

"I contributed Rs 25 lakh along with my two-month salary to help the victims (of cyclone Hudhud) after I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited Visakhapatnam yesterday," said Seetaramalakshmi, who is a Rajya Sabha MP.

Sarvaraya Sugar Limited, a coca cola bottling unit at Vemagiri in Rajahmundry, has handed over 5,000 food packets and 7,500 drinking water bottles to district collector Neetu Prasad, said its Joint Managing Director S B Ramamohan Rao.

Similarly, temple trusts are coming forward to help people in the port city which bore the brunt of the cyclone which made its landfall there on Sunday with wind speed reaching 195 kmph.

Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple, located at Annavaram in East Godavari district, has handed over 10,000 food packets and as many water bottles to the district collector for their distribution to the affected people.

Shree Vighneswara Swamy Devasthanam, Ainavalli, has also contributed 5,000 food packets and as many water packets for the purpose. The temple officials handed over the material to the Revenue Division Officer (RDO), Amalapuram today.

Expressing her gratitude on behalf of the administration, the collector said, "We are happy that companies are coming forward and contributing under their CSR." Meanwhile, the district administration has dispatched equipment and staff to Vizag to help in the ongoing efforts to restore power supply which continues to be disrupted on the fourth consecutive day.

"Nine JCBs and 22 generators of various capacities have been sent to Vizag along with 1,000 personnel of APTRANSCO from Rajahmundry even as 25 tonne of food, milk and drinking water packets are air-lifted to Visakhapatnam from Madurapudi airport here," the collector said.

PTI