Video: TDP leaders' boat overturns during visit to flood-hit districts; no injuries

Vijayawada: Tension prevailed in the area after a local boat in which former ministers and MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party were travelling overturned on 21 July. The leaders were visiting the flood-hit areas of the Godavari districts along with former Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.

During the two-day field visit, the TDP leaders were traveling on the boat to the flood-affected areas. When the boat reached Sompalli village, it overturned while they were trying to get down. TDP leaders, including Devineni Uma, Pitani Satyanarayana, and Rammohan, slipped into the waters. It was a narrow escape for the leaders.

They were immediately given life jackets by the fishermen and shifted to another boat. During the incident, Mr. Naidu was in another boat. According to the locals, the footpath set up between the boat and the landing area broke down due to heavy weight.

During Naidu's two-day visit, the TDP chief wants to personally inquire about how people in these areas are suffering and help them in whatever way possible besides assessing the damages caused by the floods. He wants to know the impact as well as the grievances of the people. He will also inquire about the damages caused to agriculture, horticulture, and property besides finding out from the locals who are camping at relief centres whether they are getting adequate food, medicines, milk, and other essentials.

The recent flash floods ravaged both the combined Godavari districts affecting several families, throwing them onto the roads. Mr. Naidu wants to interact with these families and give them some solace. As these flood-hit families are yet to get any relief from the government, Mr. Naidu wants to mount pressure on the state government to immediately take measures to provide them relief and rehabilitation.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu alleged that the state government has miserably failed in the rescue and relief operations. He said the Chief Minister left the people in the lurch and did not conduct a field visit to have first-hand information about the damage caused by the floods.