The Prime Minister on Tuesday announced a package of Rs 1,000 crore for the four cyclone-hit districts of Andhra Pradesh amid a growing sentiment here that the TDP government has been sluggish in its relief and restoration efforts. Narendra Modi also announced a payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the 22 killed by Hudhud and Rs 50,000 each to the injured after doing an aerial survey of the affected areas. “My government is with the people and government of AP in this hour of crisis. We will do everything we can to help,’’ Modi said. The PM assured the state government that a team from New Delhi would visit cyclone-hit areas and submit reports on the damage done to each sector. Funds then would be allocated accordingly. Facing criticism, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu put the blame on relief officials and private telecom operators for not being able to restore their networks. “Get your act together, people are suffering,’’ the CM warned after touring Visakhapatnam district. He lectured private telecom operators that only “giving advertisements that you are the best does not do any good when you cannot act during a crisis”. Naidu told reporters that although he warned telecom companies about the effects of the cyclone they did not respond properly. He said the government has made a preliminary estimate of losses caused by the cyclone. The Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh has suffered a loss of Rs 40,000 crore, which includes damage to substations, high-tension transmission lines, poles and disruption in distribution network. About 6,300 electricity transformers were hit by the cyclone, making it impossible to restore power unless they are replaced, he said. The Andhra University has reported an estimated damage of Rs 300 crore in damaged buildings and power and water supply lines. The Indian Navy’s Eastern Command has reported a loss of over Rs 2,000 crore to property and facilities. Vizag Steel Plant has suffered a loss of Rs 1,000 crore while the damage to city airport amounts to Rs 500 crore, the CM said. “It is a big loss. We are without power and with big industries not functioning, it is an even bigger loss,’’ CM Naidu said. “We hope to restore water supply to some areas in the city by tonight. Where tap water is not available, we are getting enough water tankers from neigbouring districts,’’ he said. Naidu said the government is making arrangements to supply food packets and essential commodities to affected people. Each packet contains rice, sugar, toor dal, potatoes, onion, palm oil and chilly powder and kerosene for fuel. Fresh vegetables would be delivered by relief trucks from Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the South-Central Railways restored trains to and from Visakhapatnam. Services opened at 3pm on Tuesday. Since all flights to and from city the airport have been grounded since Sunday, the train service has come as a big relief to those stranded.
