Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday announced ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for families of victims killed by the cyclone. He held a video conference with district collectors and other officials to discuss the impact of Cyclone Gulab and directed them to expedite relief measures in affected areas.
During the meeting held at the camp office here, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to restore power as soon as the rains subside and suggested they monitor the situation every 30 minutes. He said Rs. 1,000 should be given to each family returning home from relief camps. Jagan also directed the authorities to provide food supplies to affected people and ensure quality food is given to those taking shelter in relief camps along with proper medical care and safe drinking water.
Jagan instructed the officials to set up more relief camps in places where necessary and told them to set up medical camps in flood-prone areas to help affected families. Supply clean drinking water through tankers as water sources could be contaminated due to the rains, he told the officials and asked them to take steps to clear away water from inundated areas of Visakhapatnam.
The CM directed the officials to prepare reports on crop damage and provide immediate relief to farmers. The officials were told to remain on high alert as Odisha is also experiencing heavy rains which could lead to flash floods.
He ordered the authorities to evacuate people residing in riverside areas of Vamsadhara and Nagavali to relief camps and monitor the water levels in the reservoirs. Jagan added that Cyclone Gulab was not as severe as Hudhud or Titli.
Meanwhile, chief secretary Adityanath Das, who is monitoring the situation from Visakhapatnam, said that in some areas winds were blowing at a speed of 80-90 kmph. Trees were uprooted in some places but were cleared immediately. All highways have been cleared and people evacuated to safer areas, he said, adding relief measures are in full swing in Visakhapatnam city.