TDP cadre objects to flying drones over Naidu's house

Telugu Desam Party cadre on Friday allegedly entered into a scuffle with police at Undavalli here, objecting to aerial photo and videography of the Krishna river bank where TDP president and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's rented house is located.

The government, however, said it had deployed drone cameras to capture images of the surging flood in the river, to study its impact along the riverbank. TDP workers caught two persons using the drone cameras and handed them over to police, police said.

Several TDP leaders and workers, including former water resources minister D U Rao and MLC T D Janardhan, entered into a scuffle with police personnel following which the latter resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them, police sources said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Y T Naidu said they were verifying the facts in the case and would initiate necessary action against the guilty if something was found amiss.

State Water Resources Minister P Anil Kumar Yadav said in a statement drone camera were being used to capture visuals of the flood to assess its impact.

"The floodplains on the river bank are getting inundated due to the surge in water flow. Its the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of people.

The TDP people are resorting to the drama only to gain political mileage," Yadav said.

Chandrababu Naidu had left for Hyderabad two days ago, citing treatment for his right-hand pain, as his rented accommodation here faced the threat of inundation.