Vijayawada Flood Crisis: Rescue Efforts Intensify As City Remains Underwater

For the fourth consecutive day, floodwaters continued to inundate parts of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, with rescue and relief operations ongoing.

Despite the gradual reduction in water levels at the Prakasam Barrage, which has alleviated immediate flooding threats downstream, the city’s flood-affected neighborhoods remain severely impacted.

Heavy rains and breaches in the Budameru Rivulet led to widespread inundation of numerous localities, creating a challenging situation for residents and responders alike.

While the intensity of flooding in the rivulet has decreased, the stagnant waters from the flooded zones are proving difficult to drain.

Catastrophic Flooding Displaces Over 270,000 In Vijayawada

The catastrophic flooding has displaced over 2,70,000 people within Vijayawada, with thousands relocated to relief camps.

In response, authorities have deployed helicopters and drones to distribute essential supplies, including food and drinking water, while boats and vehicles facilitate the delivery of aid to isolated areas.

The disaster has claimed 20 lives across the state, with the NTR district accounting for 12 fatalities, Guntur seven, and Palnadu one.

Overall, the floods have affected more than 644,000 individuals statewide, leading to the establishment of 193 relief camps accommodating over 42,000 evacuees.

In the NTR district, authorities have set up 77 relief centers that shelter 14,160 people, while in the Krishna district, 37 shelters house over 9,000 individuals.

26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, and two Navy teams have mobilized to bolster rescue efforts.

Vijayawada alone has seen the deployment of 21 NDRF teams, 12 SDRF teams, and two Navy units.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy have contributed by airlifting stranded residents and dropping large quantities of supplies.

Four IAF helicopters and two Navy helicopters have airlifted 21 people and distributed essential items such as cooked meals, water, milk, and medical kits.

Additionally, 228 boats (including 174 motorized and 54 non-motorized) and 315 swimmers are actively involved in the rescue operations.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu oversees the ongoing efforts on-site in Vijayawada, while Minister Kollu Ravindra and Vijayawada MP Kesneni Chinni actively monitor the distribution of aid.

The situation at Prakasam Barrage has seen a slight improvement, with flood flows now reduced to a manageable level.

The alert status has downgraded, and the inflow and outflow at the barrage are at 4,34,000 cusecs, reducing the risk to downstream villages.

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