Central team visits flood-hit areas in Telangana, takes stock of losses

HYDERABAD: The state government will update the flood loss and submit a report to the visiting central team. The report will cover damage to properties and crops in the state due to excessive rainfall recently.
The central team comprising senior officials of four departments reached Hyderabad on Thursday and interacted with chief secretary Somesh Kumar and others.
The team also visited some of the flood-affected areas in Hyderabad. The government had earlier submitted a report to the Union government by estimating the losses at Rs 8,000 crore. The report had mentioned about the loss incurred till October 16. Officials said the updated report would be prepared by including the latest losses.
A financial consultant from the Centre was also part of the central team. Reportedly, the team has asked the state government to look at the disaster relief norms and prepare the report accordingly.
However, official sources said the disaster management rules do not provide support for restoration works of roads or tanks and relief is provided only for crop damage. “A high-level committee in the Centre will go through the report submitted by the state government before suggesting any financial relief,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the central team of joint secretary Praveen Vasista, RB Kaul from finance ministry, K Manoharan from the agriculture ministry and SK Kushwaha from the road transport and highways ministry went to Falaknuma area and took stock of the damage left behind by the floods. They visited Al-Jubail Colony, Ghazi Millat Colony, Kandikal Gate main road, Hafeez Baba Nagar and other flood-affected areas along with GHMC officials. The team also visited Palle Cheruvu and Balapur.
Some members of the team later visited Siddipet to assess the crop damage.