Rajahmundry, Aug 8 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of East Godavari district and announced special aid of Rs 5,000 each to the families whose homes were submerged.

After the aerial survey, Reddy held a review meeting with ministers and officials concerned in Rajahmundry. He directed the officials to take relief and rehabilitation measures on a war-footing.

Reddy also announced that in areas where the standing crops were washed away, seeds would be distributed free of cost along with the special aid. In the low-lying areas of Polavaram as well the special aid will be paid along with free supply of seeds.

The Chief Minister enquired about the situation in Devipatnam and other areas lying on the upper side of Dowaleswaram. The officials said that normally Godavari will not flood so severely even if the water flow is between 10-11 lakh cusecs. This could have happened due to a coffer dam (built as part of Polavaram project), the officials explained.

The Chief Minister has said that the water level at the construction site at Polavaram should be taken into consideration instead of the water level at Dowaleswaram and steps should be taken to rehabilitate those evacuated from the submerged villages and low-lying areas. The rehabilitation of Polavaram-displaced persons should be taken up on a war footing, he said.

Heavy downpour in the catchment area of Godavari basin and incessant rains in East and West Godavari districts from July 31 had triggered the floods.

The floods have affected nearly a lakh people. About 19,000 were evacuated from low-lying areas and shifted to relief camps.