Tirupati Floods: Where Are Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh?

Residents of Kalatturu Dalitawada in Tirupati district lost everything they had built over the past few years in just a few hours.

The villages of Kalatturu, Rajulakandriga, Patapalem, and Pudi in KVB Puram mandal of Satyavedu constituency were devastated by flash floods after a massive breach in the bund of Olluru Rayala Cheruvu on Thursday (November 7).

The sudden floods swept through homes, farmlands, and livestock, washing away scores of cattle. What began as a small crack in the tank’s embankment quickly widened, unleashing a torrent that submerged the surrounding villages.

According to reports, the tank, filled to the brim, was completely drained by Friday morning, leaving vast stretches of the four villages under muddy water.

Kalatturu was the worst affected. As water gushed into the village, residents scrambled to their rooftops for safety. Most houses remain inundated, with floodwater destroying walls, furniture, and years of possessions.

Heartbroken villagers said, “What we built over several years is gone in just a few hours.”

Residents blamed irrigation officials for neglecting their repeated pleas to strengthen the bund, calling the disaster a tragedy long in the making.

Taking note of the crisis, YSRCP MP M Gurumoorthy announced the release of ₹20 lakh from his MPLADS funds to support rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.

Satyavedu MLA Koneti Adimulam alerted the district collector and the Home Ministry, following which rescue teams and fire department officials were rushed to the spot.

However, amid the devastation, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and RTGS Minister Nara Lokesh have remained silent. Known for his quick responses on X (formerly Twitter), the HRD Minister appeared preoccupied with felicitating members of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, which recently lifted the ICC World Cup.

During previous disasters, including the 2024 Vijayawada floods and Cyclone Montha, the father-son duo were seen actively monitoring relief operations from Vijayawada, a major city close to Andhra’s capital Amaravati.

Their silence on the Tirupati floods, however, raises questions about whether their earlier involvement was merely for the cameras.

MP Gurumoorthy has urged the TDP government to provide ₹5 lakh in compensation for each flood-affected household.