Srikakulam Collector urges truckers, motorists stranded on NH-16 to wait till floodwaters recedes

Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar, SP K.V. Maheswar Reddy review the situation on NH-16 as heavy vehicles were stranded due to the heavy floods near Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district on Thursday.

Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar on Thursday night urged drivers of heavy vehicle and other motorists stranded on the NH-16 (Kolkata-Chennai highway) to cooperate with the government and wait patiently till the floodwaters recede and the route was safe for traffic to move.

Hundreds of vehicles including trucks, buses, cars and others were stranded on the highway.

Mr. Swapnil visited Ichchapuram along with Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheswar Reddy to review the situation.

The Collector warned that driving through the flood-affected stretches could pose a danger to drivers, others.

The police department have put up barricades to prevent the vehicles from entering into Ichchapuram from the Odisha side.

Many drivers unaware of the cyclone-related weather conditions in A.P. had travelled the route as usual on Wednesday.

The government said that it would take a couple of days to restore normalcy in the route.

Meanwhile, the administration distributed food packets to flood victims of Arakbhadra, Jagannathapeta, Thotavooru, Rattakanna and localities. Food packets were also provided to drivers stranded on the highway. Hundreds of residents from the low-lying areas were shifted to the Ichchapuram government girls’ high school and private schools being used as relief centres.

Medical teams reached relief camps as many residents complained about fever and other health problems following their exposure to heavy rain and floodwater.

The Bahuda river received around 79,280 cusecs of water by Thursday evening, as per government sources.

The Collector and other officials continue monitoring the flood situation through the control room set up at the Collectorate.