Orders issued to evacuate people from villages due to flood risk in Petda Vagu

As heavy flood currents flow into Petda Vagu from the direction of Telangana, Eluru District Collector K. Vetri Selvi has ordered the immediate evacuation of people from the flood-affected villages of Kukunuru and Velairupadu mandals. These instructions were given to officials via teleconference on Wednesday while reviewing the flood situation created by heavy rains under the influence of the DANA cyclone and necessary precautionary measures.

With the flood risk increasing due to the DANA cyclone, several villages including Velairupadu, Kammarigudem, Ontibanda, Koymadaram, Kothapuchirala, Pathapuchirala, Allunagar, Sondigollagudem, Vasantawada, and Gullayilu are at risk of submergence. The Collector has directed the administration to initiate rescue and relief operations on a war footing and to move residents to rehabilitation centres.

The Collector has ordered officials to give priority to pregnant women, senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities during the evacuation. She clarified that pregnant women should be moved to nearby Primary Health Centres. Instructions have also been given to keep boats ready for rescue operations and to ensure the supply of rice and other essential commodities to villages cut off due to damaged roads.

Warning signs and barricades should be installed on culverts, streams, and unpaved roads to ensure people do not cross flooded areas. Instructions have also been received to deploy personnel at sensitive locations to warn people entering river, lake, and canal areas. Emphasising that no loss of life should occur, the Collector told mandal and village-level officials to remain vigilant and focus on emergency relief measures. Joint Collector M.J. Abhishek Gowda and officials from other departments, including the Revenue Department, were present in this teleconference.

Eluru is a district located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.