Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to extend an exgratia relief of Rs2 lakh to the families of 18 people who were killed in the freak rains over the weekend. The heavy rains across the State left more than a thousand houses damaged and devastated crops over 1,47,000 hectares.

After a review meeting of officials by the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said that the officials of the affected districts have been asked to launch immediate relief operations in the affected areas and send a detailed report on the damages within a week. He said that the collectors have also been asked to provide assistance to the families whose houses were damaged in the heavy rains.

As election code of conduct was enforced for the legislative council polls in most of the districts, the Chief Minister will visit only two affected districts of Adilabad and Karimnagar with the permission of the Election Commission, he said. In Kaghaznagar mandal of Adilabad district he will meet the family of a labourer who died in a rain-related mishap.

Heavy rains along with gale winds have caused unprecedented damage to the crops in Telangana region and many districts in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region. Many ministers were already in the affected districts to assess the situation.

According to the preliminary assessment by the officials, standing crops of paddy, maize, and red gram was damaged over an area of 1,47,000 hectares and horticulture crops over an area of 1,04,000 hectares in 12 districts.