Due to heavy rains on October 1 and 2, the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers were in spate and several villages were inundated. Badly affected were 25 villages lying on the bank of Tungabhadra river, like Rajoli, Tummilla, Tummalapalli and Alampur, etc., were fully submerged. Thus around 16,000 families became shelterless.
Immediately after learning of the floods and consequent submergence of the villages, the swayamsevaks plunged into service. In order to supply food items along with essential commodities a survey was conducted. The effected villages were divided into three categories. Twenty-five villages, where all families lost their possessions, belonged to category I. The villages numbering 26 where families in half of the village lost their possessions belonged to category II. Another 10 villages where less damage was caused belonged to category III. Among these 61 villages, every family was supplied with kit containing items worth Rs. 1,500. The kit contained rice weighing 10 kgs to 25 kgs, 1 kg dal, 1 kg edible oil, chili powder etc., bucket, plate, glass and blanket.
In order to supply to the victims equally, card in the shape of a token was distributed. Depending upon the state of the village, first 20 workers went to each village to deliver the cards and to speak to the elders and youngsters. Later on with the cooperation of all, they ensured distribution of the above-mentioned items properly and systematically.
To prevent outbreak of infectious diseases due to decomposition of dead animals, cremation and burial services were carried out for those dumb creatures. Swayamsevaks went in three groups to each effected village and arranged burial or cremation for 124 dead animals.
Bleaching powder and phenyl was sprinkled in an effort to stop spread of any contagious diseases.
Further, medical services were rendered in the villages as a precautionary measure. Under the leadership of Dr Surender Reddy (Hyderabad), around 30 doctors rendered medical services at 20 centers by forming 3 groups.
Kurnool town and other catchment areas were also fully inundated due to overflowing of Handri and Tungabhadra rivers. Lakhs of people were rendered homeless. People were taking shelter on top of the three storied buildings. Surrounded by stark darkness, with water everywhere looking like ocean, with tremendous flow and reverberating sounds, the people of Kurnool spent two nights amidst these frightening situations. Swayamsevaks at the cost of their lives shifted the marooned people from 10 feet depth of water to safer places. All the people there took shelter in the premises of G Pulla Reddy’s College and Sri Saraswati Shishu Mandir. Though houses of several swayamsevaks were submerged in water, they all got involved in the service activities unmindful of their personal difficulty.
Out of 50 wards in the town 36 wards were fully submerged in water. Shops, business places, show rooms, small shops, huts and dhabas were severally damaged. It is difficult to estimate the loss. All the life long earnings were fully washed out in the water. There was a heavy loss to the property. Loss of life was less. There was heavy loss to the cattle. It was nature’s fury in full.
From places like Anantapur, Hindupur, Dharmavaram, Betamcharla and Tadiparti, 3,60,000 packets of chapatis, 1 lakh packets of yellow rice and required drinking water packets were delivered at Kurnool town. Food was cooked and served for around 50,000 people who took shelter in the camps of G Pulla Reddy College and Sri Saraswati Shishu Mandir. About 1,50,000 victims who reached Jagannath mound were provided food by the swayamsevaks.
Swayamsevaks organised relief camps for a period of 5 to 15 days at centers such as Pamulapadu Mandal, Vempeta, Kokilakuntla, Uyyalavada, Goppadu, Dornipadu Mandal, Gokavaram, Nandikotkuru, Betamcherla, Panchalingala, Nandyala, Adoni and Mantralaya. Food was cooked and served for several thousand victims. One swayamsevak Shri Mallikarjuna Reddy with his own resources cooked and served food for 2,000 flood victims continuously for 3 days.
Medical camps were conducted in 44 villages through organisations of Sewa Bharati and the RSS. Essential items were also distributed in 96 villages of 23 Mandals for 51,070 families. Relief camps were organised for 15 days and 1,245 Sangh workers actively participated.
Swayamsevaks were in the forefront in the service of distribution of utensils worth Rs. 3.50 crore to the flood victims. Cattle fodder worth Rs.1 lakh was also distributed.
(Samachar Bharati, Andhra Pradesh)
