Kurnool:
Nature's fury doesn't spare anyone, not the rich or the poor. The richest man in Kurnool was left without a shelter of his own after the recent unprecedented floods. Industrialist and MLA T G Venkatesh's home, hospital, factory and hotel, all were submerged in the fury of the waters.
It has taken almost 10 days for Venkatesh to enter his office again. The workplace was under water after floods ravaged Kurnool. He had to move out of his palatial home on the river bank. Even his hotel in located in the heart of Kurnool became waterlogged, forcing Venkatesh to move into another hotel with his family.
"First two days, when I was inside my home, when it was flooded, it was a nightmare. After that shock, any shelter is a huge relief. It was my friend's hotel only where I moved into," said Venkatesh.
Venkatesh estimates the floods have washed away up to Rs 30 crore out of his assets. His chemical factory in Kurnool and power plant in Bellary, both went under water.
"Nature will not see whether it is a poor person or an industrialist. It treats everyone equally," he said.
Venkatesh by virtue of his various business and philanthropic activities is the biggest name in Kurnool, but the floods left him without a roof over his head. And with his hospital flooded, he could do little to help those who needed medical attention.
Venkatesh knows Kurnool cannot afford another flood, so he intends to build a flood wall using his personal resources in case the government takes too long to implement the project.