No respite from deluge even a week after rain: Residents of Palakol complain

Residents navigating through a water-logged street in Housing Board Colony in Palakol in West Godavari district on Saturday.

With water still not receding even a week after Cyclone Murasu flooded the streets of Palakol in West Godavari district, residents see no help in sight as they complain that their efforts to raise the issue with authorities have gone in vain.

“The A.P. Housing Board Colony, Allu Venkata Satnarsyana Colony and the neighbouring areas were inundated. Flood entered many houses and damaged household articles,” said residents of Housing Board Colony.

As colonies were flooded, there has been no proper power supply, and streets remained inaccessible for milk and vegetable vendors, residents complained.

In some lanes, slush and garbage entered into the houses. Floodwater in the colonies has not receded, and snakes and poisonous reptiles were creating panic, said a resident, Vijaya Lakshmi.

“We have sent messages through social media groups to the Palakol Municipal and Revenue officials, and tried in vain to meet the public representatives. There has been no response from them,” said Sathi Babu of AVS Colony.

“Medicines and essentials are exhausted in several houses, and senior citizens, pregnant and lactating women were suffering, as the colonies are in knee-deep water,” Kumari, a resident whose house was damaged due to the cyclone, told The Hindu on Saturday.

A few people vacated as their houses were in floodwaters and went to safer places. There were no street lights too, Ms. Kumari added.

“When we visited the Sachivalayams, Revenue and Municipal offices, attenders and watchmen said the officers were on election duties. No steps have been taken to drain out the floodwater, a Kirana shop owner said.

“Flood water stagnated in low-lying areas, and many areas were water-logged for the last few days. We are trying to solve the problem,” an officer said.