New Delhi/Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh continues to be deeply divided over Telanagana with total shutdown of Seemandhra completing five days in October 9. The situation in 13 districts across Seemandhra where anti-Telangana protests are going on is getting worse.
With electricity department employees joining the agitation opposing Telangana, most parts of Seemandhra have already plunged into darkness. The power supply has been completely affected in many districts.
Even Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at hospitals don't have power supply. The battery operated power backup systems are also running out of power due to the lack of electricity to recharge them.
The diesel and kerosene power generators are also facing shortage of fuel due to total bandh. The prices of essential commodities like milk, vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, petrol, diesel, kerosene have also skyrocketed. A pack of one kilo milk is being sold for Rs 70-80 at some places.
Since, almost all shops have been closed for the past five days; people are not getting even groceries. Most of the districts in Seemandhra have been without power for the past two days.
Bank ATMs and mobile phone towers are also dead due to shutdown of power supply. Water supply to homes has been hit at most cities and towns due to non-availability of power.
CNN-IBN correspondent Preeti Singh, who is currently in the worst hit Vishakapatnam and Vizianagaram districts reports that the situation at hospitals is terrible.
Dr Sitarama Raju, Medical Superintendent at the Vizianagaram district hospital said, "We are a managing now with generators. But if situation continues it will become difficult. We are now attending only emergencies. As part of the government doctors association, we are also part of the agitation."
The largest government hospital in the region, King George hospital at Vishakhapatnam has been without power supply for the past two days. The doctors are worried that, if the power backup dies, it can lead to the death of several patients in the ICU.
The Coromandel highway which connects Chennai and Kolkata has been shut at several places between Nellore and Srikakulam causing a huge pile up of vehicles including thousands of trucks carrying goods and other essential commodities.
Most of the restaurants and roadside hotels have also downed their shutters. The stranded people are also struggling to find water and food.
The four civilian airports in Seemandhra region: Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Tirupati are also without power. They are running on power backup and diesel generators. If the power supply is not restored in the next two days, these airports will most probably stop flight operations.
A production loss of more than 4000 megawatts of power and none to attend to problems of sub stations tripping; massive power cuts are a growing concern in these districts.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is scheduled to hold talks with the protesting employees to persuade them to restore power supply on Wednesday in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's indefinite fast against Telangana has completed four days. TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who is also on a fast in New Delhi, has also completed two days.
Congress General Secretary in charge Andhra Pradesh Digvijaya Singh has also appealed to the people of Seemandhra to call off the agitation. He has also released copies of the letters sent by the TDP and the YSRCP expressing support to the Telangana to blunt their opposition to the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
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