Film theatres hit in Kunrool, Entertainment sector face losses

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Kurnool

Film theatres in Kurnool are worst hit as the Handri an Tungabadra floods wrecked havoc in the town that submerged half of the city.Many of the theatres are on the banks of handri they were inundated in October 2nd and 3rd and shows were cancelled abruptly. On the five days of floods only two theatres out of 25 operated.Interestingly some of the flood victims who ferried out of their houses to save lives purchased tickets in Prithvi and Nagasai theatres that are not affected to watch Junior NTRs movie and Nagarjuna’s Shiva screened at this two theatres.On Thursday five theatres have become operational and others are still cleaning up the halls and assessing the damages.Five theatres in Anand cine complex screening Rama Charan Tejas Magadheera and Sri Rama theatre screening Josh still didn’t resume the shows.

Mr Gopal Reddy Manager of Prithvi theatre says ,”we have screened Junior NTRs Naga and in Nagasai theatre films like Siva, Rowdy Inspector are screened in these days. The collections have come down drastically,”He added three other theatres Ravi, Ravikirhan, Radha Krishna which were closed for two days are began screening the films.

Mr Pullaiah an employee of the theatre said ,”some of the flood victims from several areas in old city and one town whose houses were inundated didn’t go to relief camps immediately instead purchased tickets and watched movies. In the relief camps they have to sit and sleep on the floor. In theatres we have at least chairs,”

Swine flu fear, Chest hospital teams deployed in Kurnool

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Kurnool

Swine flu screening teams and six doctors from Erragadda chesthospital Hyderabad have arrived in at Kurnool on Friday as the fear of H1N1 spread issuspected.Kurnool General Hospital Superintendent Dr M S R K Prasad told this correspondent,""there are no cases of Swine flu reported in the city.

But as a precautionary measurethe doctors team from Chest Hospital was sent to screen the patients suffering with acuterespiratory diseases,"

After the floods on October 6th and 7th four kids died of acute respiratory disease inKurnool General Hospital and hospital authorities have termed them as regular disease.Doctors said that the slush mixed up with food grains and oil and other material is anexcellent medium for bacteria and virus.The food grains stocked in One town and godowns and cooking oil perished in water andthe residents in Kurnool stock the rice for a year and all these bags soaked in water.

"the foul smell and the presence of micro organisms in the air will cause respiratoryinfections. So we have made all arrangements to face any situation. Three psychiatristalso came here to treat the flood phobia and depression due to this. Doctors from Gandhiand Osmania General Hospital are also arriving here. Teams of KGH are going to 56villages," said Mr MSRK Prasad.Residents of Kurnool now demand the government to supply N 95 respirator mask tothem.Lakshmi Narayana Gupta of Poolabazar says ,"the stinking smell is too bad. peoplealready have throat infections. the surgical masks now available are of no use.government should supply N 95 respirator masks,"

Kurnool municipal Officials said that the drainage and sewage lines mixed up with thedrinking water supply pipes and the contamination is suspected.

AP Pollution Control Board have lifted the samples to test the water for E Coli and otherpollutants.Mr A Surendra Raju Joint Chief Environmental Engineer of AP Pollution Control Board,"our men have lifted the samples of water in Kurnool and the tests are being conducted.We are waiting for the results. We didn't collect any samples of air pollution,"The Institute of Preventive Medicine regional lab situated at Kurnool General Hospitalalso submerged in water and there no water quality tests conducted.Authorities said all the equipment was damaged in the floods.

Kurnool Archaeological museum hosting priceless antiques devastated

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Kurnool

Kurnool Archaeological Museum hosting prehistoric to modern periodantiques, paintings, coins, sculptures, arms, pottery and talapatras was badly damagedin the floods of Handri river.Archaeology department Anantapur region Assistant director Mr Vijay Kumar who visitedthe museum in Kurnool told this newspaper that paintings of 18th century were spoiledas the flood water engulfed the museum. Officials are now worried over the fate of otherpriceless antiques.The glass show cases containing prehistoric stone tools, coins of Ikshvaka, Moghal,Sathavahana dynasties and sculptures of Chalukya period were floating in the building.Mr Vijay Kumar said ,"the paintings belong to modern period of 18th century that mayhave spoiled are less valuable when compared to other exhibits in the museum. Thetalapatras may also have got defiled. The remaining exhibits are intact but the showcases are floating in the hall in the water and mud. We may have to do the chemicaltreatment to restore them. We don't know about the fate of Old Holy Quran manuscriptbook in the museum. Only after clearing the mud and water is totally pumped out we cancome to a conclusion to what extent they are damaged," He added that exhibits arelocked in the show cases.Even the houses of the staff of Archaeology department are affected. Officials claimedthat they have put a 24 hour guard at the museum to prevent any thefts as the exhibitsvalue hundreds of crores in international market.The infrastructure of the museum including computers, furniture and files were marred inthe flood water.AP Archaeology department director Mr P Chenna Reddy ," I am obtaining reports fromall over the state on the flood damage to the museums and historic sites. KurnoolMuseum was one among archaeological properties that are badly hit. We are sure thatnone of the displays are washed away in the floods. We are making efforts to clean upthe mud,"Mr Chenna Reddy added that two temples of Vijayanagar period which are transplantedfrom Srisailam submergence area to Bannur in Jupadu Mandal in Kurnool district weresubmerged in the water. Siddeswaraswamy temple and Bujanganadha temple weretransplanted after the construction of Srisailam reservoir were also immersed in water.Archaeological museum at Alampur in Mahabunagar district was still submerged inwater. Mr Nayak Assistant Director of Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda region said ,"thereare around 250 sculptures dating from sixth to seventh century. The registry file werelost. We can't even reach the museum yet as there is still 12 feet water," He added thatthere is no back up for the registerArchaeological officials now want government to construct new buildings by raising theheight of the ground floor to prevent being flooded.

Tungabadhra floods: Mantralayam Jumbos saved

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Mantralayam

Two elephants serving at Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy temple inMantralayam were saved by mahouts who unlocked their legs as the water level rose tosix feet.The two pachyderms were shifted to Kalludevakunta a nearby village which is situatedfour kilometre from Mantralayam by Mahouts.The rabbits and deers that were in the garden were shifted three months ago as the straydogs are entering into to prey upon them.Mantralayam SI of police Mr Srinivas said ,"as the flood water level rose the mahoutsshifted the elephants. The deer and rabbits were handed over to forest department asstray dogs attacked one of them in the garden,"Mr Vittal Joshi the poorvshrama son in law of the Madhvacharya Mutt pntiff SriSuyateendra Teertha Swamy said ,"the elephants were kept in the garden just beside theriver. Initially the water was only a few feet as the levels rose the mahout took them outto safety,"There two elephants a male and a female near the mutt and they are used forgajavahana seva for the Sri Gura Raghavendra swamy.The male one named Raghunandana was donated by an NRI in 2005 and Surgarcane forthe elephants is grown near Madhavaram village.Archaka Jayteendra said ,"initially the water was only to the feets within no time thelevels rose so they were taken to the nearby village,"SI of Police M Srinivas said ,"the chopper that came on October 2nd saved three lives ofvictims stranded on a tree.,"

Sand Boa racket In Hyderabad

By U Sudhakar Reddy

The wildlife offi cials busted an inter-state sand boa snake selling racket and fined eight persons for possessing three snakes.
The racketeers were using a website, www.ricepuller.com, to sell the snakes. The state wild life anti-poaching squad forest range officer, Mr M. Raja Ramana Reddy, said, "The racket has its roots in AP, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kar- nataka and Maharashtra. We have recovered three snakes - from Bibinagar in Nalgonda and in Dilsukhnagar in the city."
The snakes were caught - from the nearby forests. The eight members were fined Rs 25,000. One of them had t impersonated a mandal rev enue officer, he said. According to the officials those fined included P.Srinivas, son of Sudarshan, an MBA graduate who was using the website.
The others are P. Bhaskar of Bibinagar, P. Hari of Banjara Hills, B. Ravi of Karmanghat, V. Yadagiri of Karmanghat, J. Mallesh of LB Nagar, S. Lakshmi Narasimha alias Ashok of Saidabad and B. Rajasekhar of Nalgonda. The wildlife officials seized a car, mobile phones and a motorcycle.
Though the sand boa has no actual market or buyers, the racketeers create a false impression that these twinheaded snakes have valuable curative properties and can be sold for crores of rupees each.
Believing this, gullible persons buy the snake, called "double engine" in their parlance, from th snake catchers in villages.
The middlemen, wh promise them the money collect thousands of rupee fees for "expenses" an examine the sand boa, bu the promised buyer neve arrives.
Even if the "buyer" arrive he "rejects" the snake stat ing that it is underweight o shows some other discrep ancy.