Rotary responds to AP-Telangana flood crisis

The recent depression over the Bay of Bengal caused widespread flooding across Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana. The rainfall which began on August 30 intensified through the first week of September, with AP bearing the brunt. Over 27 per cent of the state’s annual rainfall occurred in just 48 hours; an IMD report explains that this extreme weather event was driven by a land-based cyclone, which drew moisture from both the Arabian Sea and the land heat of eastern India, the combination of which led to the two states witnessing an astonishing 500mm of rain in just 24 hours on August 31.

The atmospheric conditions that created this torrential downpour are part of a phenomenon called ‘monsoon lows’. These systems tend to sustain without weakening, move slowly and dump huge volumes of rainfall in a short period. As a result, these two states, as well as Odisha and Gujarat, all faced heavy rainfall until September 12.

The collector personally inspected the packets for expiry dates in one of our distribution sites. When he saw our work and zeal, he was totally impressed and promised to help us.
– Sharath Choudary, District Governor, RID 3150

The rapid rise in river water levels and the surplus discharge from dams intensified the crisis. Floodwaters inundated villages, cutting off access to essential services and necessitating mass evacuations. Among the hardest hit areas were Andhra’s Guntur and Telangana’s Khammam district, where the Wyra river and Madhira lake overflowed, causing further devastation, said Sharath Choudary, district governor of RI district 3150 comprising Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Crops worth ₹5,000 crore were damaged, severely impacting small farmers. Emergency services, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were mobilised to rescue stranded residents and house them in relief camps.

DG Choudary spearheaded Project Aapadbhandu (protector against danger) — a large-scale disaster relief initiative. With contributions from 40 Rotary clubs, the project raised funds, procured supplies, and packed 5,000 emergency kits for distribution in flood-affected areas. “Rotarians navigated flooded villages by boat or waded through waist-deep water to deliver aid.” These kits contained essential groceries for a week. Rotary Clubs of Piduguralla Lime City and Tenali in AP, and RC Khammam in Telangana, were the coordinating agencies for the distribution of the relief kits.

To prevent duplication and looting of the kits, coupons were first distributed among the people and relief kits were given in exchange for the coupons. This ensured that every family received the much-needed relief package. The local residential associations and NGOs pitched in with around 4,000 blankets and bedsheets.

The Rotary emergency kits were particularly crucial for the Adivasi families on the banks of the Krishna River, said Anita Reddy, a member of RC Smart Hyderabad. These families were marooned for 17 days since the start of the rain and “we reached out to them with the kits in boats.”

A member of RC Banjara Hills who is in the edible oil trade contributed this commodity to the relief kit. Some members in the textile business gave clothes and bedsheets. “What was gratifying was that we pooled in enough funds the first day, procured and packed the material in the next two days, distributed coupons on the fourth day and by the fifth day we completed distribution of kits in major areas. Almost all Rotarians participated in the relief activities,” said Choudary who is participating in a disaster relief project for the seventh time. The district clubs have so far contributed around ₹50 lakh and “the money is still coming in,” he said.

Project Aapadbhandu was appreciated by the district collector and the state government officials. “The collector personally visited one of our distribution sites and inspected the packets for expiry dates. When he saw our work and zeal, he was totally impressed and promised to help us.”

RID 3020 has received Disaster Response Grant of $25,000 from TRF and will use the funds to provide flood relief kits to 1,800 families.
– Dr M Venkateswara Rao, District Governor, RID 3020

By September 14, the floodwater had not yet receded in many areas, particularly the river and canal banks, and people remained in relief camps. “We have a significant amount of money left and our relief plans for the second phase include long-term rehabilitation services, such as helping people re-establish businesses, providing vocational skills training, and organising medical camps in the flood-affected areas.”

Krishna district in coastal Andhra Pradesh also experienced severe flooding. Vijayawada recorded over 29cm rainfall in a single day, marking “one of the worst calamities in the history of the Krishna River,” says a media report.

In response, the eight Rotary clubs of Krishna district which fall under RID 3020, came together to distribute food in the various relief camps that housed around three lakh displaced people. “Meanwhile, the district collector requested us to provide milk as the Vijaya Dairy, a local milk plant in Vijayawada, was submerged, and there was acute shortage of milk,” said RID 3020 DG Venkateswara Rao. The Rotarians, through their contacts, immediately sourced 5,000 milk packets from Jersey Dairy, 30km from Vijayawada.

“Almost all Rotary clubs contributed funds and we distributed kits containing clothes, blankets, sanitary pads, mosquito nets etc, all worth ₹40 lakh, to the people, even in remote areas,” he said. The district has recently received Disaster Response Grant of $25,000 from TRF. “We will be distributing flood relief kits each worth ₹2,000 to 1,800 families,” he added. RC Amaravati donated ₹3 lakh, and one of its members gave ₹1 crore, to the CM’s Relief Fund.

“As the waters recede and communities begin to rebuild, we believe that our long-term rehabilitation efforts will play a vital role in helping families recover from this devastating event,” said Rao.