Torrential rains have battered the State of Andhra Pradesh particularly the districts of Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Kadapa, Ananthpur, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and East Godavari.

The thunderstorms and overflowing rivers have left thousands of villages without basic services like water and power supply since Friday and hundreds of miles of roads and railway tracks under water.

According to media sources, the death toll stands at 32 with 300,000 affected and 84,000 evacuated and housed in temporary relief camps. In Kurnool city, which is the worst-affected, about 30,000 families have been severely affected.

Realizing the magnitude of the disaster, the National Headquarters of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) along with the State and District branches have come into action and joined the local administration in rescue and relief operations. Prof (Dr.) S. P. Agarwal, Secretary General, IRCS stated that "we are in constant touch with the State Red Cross Branch officials and are closely monitoring the situation".

The National Headquarter (NHQ) of IRCS has decided to release relief items such as bed sheets, sarees, dhotis, kitchen sets, mosquito nets and plastic buckets, 2000 pieces each, amounting to Rs. 20, 90,000 for distribution in Andhra Pradesh.

Apart from this the IRCS (NHQ) is also closely monitoring the situation in other flood affected States which include Karnataka, Kerala Assam, Maharashtra and Tripura. The branches have been advised to submit a report based on their assessment of the damage and requirement of the community. Offer has also been made to facilitate a joint assessment in which the State Branches shall be joined by NHQ and IFRC.