Five days after what is being called the worst floods in Andhra Pradesh's history, locals are still fighting the fury of the waters. While some are fleeing to save their lives, others are fighting to save their homes and still others are trying to salvage whatever's left of their life's earnings.

This is reportedly the worst floods 10,000 years and has forced lakhs of people to flee their homes, in whatever mode of transport would save their life - they have swum, used pushcarts, children have escaped on the shoulders of their parents.

Not everyone could make it to the safety of a relief camp. Others, who had opted to stay near their homes to safeguard their belongings, had to be eventually rescued.

Those who returned home after waters receded, in places like Kurnool town, find hardly anything worthwhile left. There is only silt all over.

A survivor who returned says: "TV, fridge, cooler, all of it is gone. There is no water to drink. No place to stay. No one has come to our help. Who should we tell our story of woe to, I can't understand.''

In many areas, locals are pitching in to move stones and sandbags to try and stop the breach of river bunds and canals. Says one: ``If we don't save that, our houses will be washed away.''

Considering the scale of the destruction, it is inevitable that there is criticism about inadequate relief.