Nellore: The plight of flood affected residents of Nellore is turning from bad to worse by the day. There is little or no assistance from government officials as the people continued to live in knee-deep water in their houses. Adults, children and the old alike, they have been sleeping on roof-tops, eating whatever comes from outside as they are not able to move out through water-logged streets.

People in low lying areas are the worst affected as the flood water has submerged several villages, forcing people to take shelter on rooftops and on trees for days together. They are unable to move to safer places as the streets are submerged and there are no means of transport such as boats. The flood water has also brought about other types of problems; snakes and poisonous insects are moving around in the water. They are spending sleepless nights in the open areas out of fear of increase in water levels.

Meanwhile, in Vadarapalem in Sullurpeta, officials have forcibly shifted the residents to relief camps in schools. However, the people in the camps are complaining that after being shifted no official has visited them or provided any food. They would have preferred to stay at their submerged hosues than being shifted to the relief camps, they said.

About 467 houses were completely damaged and more than 2,000 houses were partially damaged due to the floods. Also, more than 1,800 kilometers of roads were damaged including those that are completely submerged in water.

Penna River: The Penna river continues to be in spate. After 15 years, the district is witnessing the Penna river floods. The river water however is said to be wasted as officials are forced to divert the water to the sea. There are no measures to save the water, the villagers said.

About 2 lakh cusecs of water is being diverted into the sea. Works on the Sangam barrage was started during the regime of the YS Rajasekhar Reddy government. However, the works were discontinued by successive governments due to lack of funds.

The release of Penna river water is also a threat to villages in low lying areas as they face the threat of being submerged.

Chief Minister Tour: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to tour the flood-affected district. He requested the central government for an immediate assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore for Nellore.

YS Jagan Tour: YSR Congress Party president and Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to tour Nellore and Kadapa districts on November 23 and 24. He will visit the flood-affected villages and interact with the people.