Metro India News | AMARAVATI : Andhra Pradesh Home Minister and Minister for Disaster Management, Vangalapudi Anitha, has declared that the state is fully prepared to face any disaster under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Speaking at the inauguration of a three-day training seminar on disaster mitigation at the National Institute of Disaster Management’s (NIDM) South Campus in Ganavaram, she emphasized that the coalition government has allocated sufficient funds to bolster disaster management efforts.

The seminar, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, aims to train officials on disaster preparedness and response. Addressing the gathering, the Home Minister applauded the Chief Minister's initiative to provide specialized training to government officials across departments to strengthen their capacity to manage disasters. She urged officials to make full use of the training provided by institutions like NIDM, focusing on risk assessment, early warnings, and effective disaster response mechanisms.

Highlighting the importance of preparedness, the Minister suggested that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) should conduct training programs similar to those of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). She revealed plans to train 1,300 state officials and 34,000 field-level officers in phases to establish a robust disaster management system.

Minister Anitha noted that Andhra Pradesh has successfully tackled natural calamities like the Hudhud cyclone and Budameru floods under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. She commended the NIDM and NDRF teams for their exemplary work during the floods in Vijayawada, setting a benchmark in disaster response.

Criticizing the previous government led by the YSR Congress Party, she accused them of neglecting critical disaster management tools, such as the equipment used to alert fishermen during emergencies, thereby endangering lives.

During her visit to the NIDM South Campus in Kondapavuluru, Krishna district, the Home Minister inspected the institute’s facilities and praised its advanced infrastructure. She reviewed the preparedness of emergency response teams and witnessed a demonstration of cutting-edge equipment used by the NDRF during various disasters.

The Minister also inquired about the safety measures employed by NDRF personnel in high-risk situations.