Jagan demands Rs 25L ex gratia to kin of the deceased

Vijayawada : YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded that the State government provide Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each house affected by the recent floods in Vijayawada.

Jagan visited the flood-affected areas in Old RR Peta, Vijayawada, where he walked through knee-deep water and interacted with residents and enquired about their difficulties.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he expressed deep concern over the government’s handling of the flood situation and held Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the loss of 32 lives.

He said that the disaster could have been avoided if the government had acted in time. He questioned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s negligence in managing the crisis and asked whether he was fit to remain in office. He demanded that Naidu admit his mistakes and issue a public apology.

Jagan further stated that the State government’s failure to take preventive measures had worsened the situation. He said that Chandrababu Naidu had prioritised his house over the well-being of Vijayawada and added that when his house was submerged, Naidu moved to the Collector’s office, falsely claiming that he was staying there for the sake of the people. He added that Naidu’s convoy in the flood-affected areas was more for show, with little real assistance provided to the people.

Jagan also raised concerns about why key departments like Irrigation, Revenue and Home were not alerted in time as this could have minimised the impact of the disaster. He criticised the NDA government in the State for putting the blame on some officials. Comparing the current situation to his own tenure as the Chief Minister, Jagan recalled how his administration efficiently handled similar flood crises. He claimed that under his leadership, volunteers and secretariat staff were well-prepared and thousands of people were moved to relief camps before the floods caused damage.

He noted that his government ensured that every affected person received proper care with Rs 2,000 provided to each individual before they returned to their homes.

Jagan also highlighted the Rs 500 crore retaining wall built during his tenure, which now protects around 3 lakh people in Vijayawada.

He mentioned that many households, particularly those on the ground floor, had lost all their belongings and the situation had become dire. He called for urgent action to address the victims’ needs and reiterated the necessity of swift and effective relief measures to help flood victims.