Guntur: The Indian Navy's relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Andhra Pradesh continued robustly on Friday under the guidance of the Eastern Naval Command. Naval helicopters have been extensively deployed to drop food packets, medical kits, and water bottles to stranded individuals. Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) are actively engaged in evacuating people to safety and distributing food, having rescued over 180 individuals.

The severe flooding, caused by heavy rainfall from a land-based cyclone, has submerged roads and homes across the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that intense precipitation over just 24 hours, fueled by moisture from the Arabian Sea and heat from eastern India, has led to these extreme weather conditions.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with central forces and local officials, is working diligently to provide relief. The flooding, triggered by a cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, has caused rising water levels at the Prakasam Barrage and inundated several regions.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and State Minister Nara Lokesh visited Vijayawada to assess the situation and later held a press conference. Chouhan described the flooding in Vijayawada as unprecedented, with the area receiving 400mm of rainfall in a short span, leading to significant crop damage and affecting 200,000 farmers. He commended Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his team for their continuous efforts and highlighted the central government's support in the crisis.

Chouhan also mentioned that food packets, milk, and water are being air-dropped to stranded individuals using drones, and sanitation and animal husbandry efforts are underway. A team led by Home Minister Amit Shah is exploring ways to increase water discharge from the Prakasam Barrage. The assessment of damage to crops is also in progress.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who reviewed the situation at the Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority, emphasized that protecting lives and property remains the top priority. Additionally, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan announced that drones are being used to deliver essential supplies to affected areas and donated Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).

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