During my tenure, there was a massive flood in Godavari River, which flows for near about 200 kilometers in Khammam District. Number of villages on the bank of the river were submerged and there was a huge loss of property.

There were torrential rains continued for days and rain-fed tributaries were in full spate.

The road and rail traffic was totally disrupted as the flood water had eroded portions of roads and rail line.

So much so that I and Collector could not reach Bhadrachalam town, which was a sub divisional headquarters and situated at the banks of Godavari.

The ASP of Bhadrachalam subdivision, a young IPS officer Mr. Bhoobathi Babu, who was in the headquarters to attend a meeting reached the town with great difficulty and risk to his life. It was a massive post flood rehabilitation work which kept the police busy for number of days.

Sri Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime minister of India, decided to land at Bhadrachalam town and tour the flood affected areas lying on the banks of Godavari by road.

During those days, relations between Congress party and Telugu Desam Party, the ruling party at Andhra Pradesh, were not very cordial. The intimation of his tour was given only a day in advance and coincidentally the chief minister was also touring the District in his vanity van. When informed about the visit of Prime Minister, he did not seem enthusiastic to receive him and directed the District Officers to receive him.

Following a lot of persuasion by his principal secretary the CM finally relented to be at the Helipad and accompany him.

The next day he received him and accompanied the entourage of the Prime Minister who was travelling in a bullet proof car.

We had made all possible arrangement for security all along the route in one day. The credit for working out the security arrangement went to my Additional SP and Assistant SsP who diligently worked whole night and deployed the man-power all along the route.


To be continued.....