Godavari River in Spate: Flood Alert Sounded In AP, Telangana

Officials say that they have evacuated people from the islands and have put in place precautionary measures.

The Sirsilam reservoir in Andhra Pradesh. Image used for representational purpose.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

With the Godavari swelling, Andhra Pradesh has declared high alert in two districts and Telangana in one district. Both states are not taking any chances with the Sirsilam reservoir in Andhra Pradesh touching 878 feet on Friday, 17 August – just 8 feet short of the full reservoir capacity – at the Lower Krishna Division (LKD).

When the reservoir level touches 880 feet, the crest gate will be opened. The inflow to the dam site stood at 3,23,538 cusecs and outflow to Nagarjuna Sagar dam was 97,000 cusecs.

Narayana Reddy, chief engineer told <i>Deccan Chronicle</i>

At the Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram, as the water levels touch 13.4 feet, the water resources authorities are preparing to issue a second warning when the water level touches 13.75 feet. There was a discharge of 12.10 lakh cusecs of water from the barrage at Dowleswaram on Friday, 17 August.

Authorities Evacuate Families, River Being Monitored Closely

Two villages with over 100 families in the East Godavari district were evacuated when the first warning was issued as the water level touched 11.57 feet on Thursday, 16 August 11:30 pm.

In areas like Rajahmundry, the authorities evacuated 158 people living on two islands, Bridgelanka and Kedarilanka, reported Deccan Chronicle.

Those from Mulakalanka island of Sitanagaram mandal have also been evacuated and moved to relief camps.

The sub-collector CM Sai Kanth Varma has issued directions to the revenue authorities to evacuate the people to safety. Those being evacuated are being accommodated at municipal community halls. Temporary relief and medical camps have been set up, stocked with water and food.

East Godavari District Collector Kartikeya Misra told PTI that the situation was under control at the moment and they are monitoring the river closely.

Some 100 families have been affected in the two villages under Devipatnam mandal that were marooned and we have moved them to safety. Revenue Department, police, the NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in Rajamahendravaram and we are prepared to tackle any eventuality.

Kartikeya Misra, East Godavari District Collector told PTI

In West Godavari district, the road network to over 15 tribal villages has been cut off as the Kotturu Causeway was inundated water. Construction work on the Polavaram dam had been stopped in view the Godavari in spate. The water level at Polavaram was around 42 feet on Friday afternoon, reported The Times of India.

Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Disaster Management, has directed the Water Resources Department officials to take urgent steps to prevent breaches in canal bunds along the Godavari.

As a precautionary measure, a ban on travelling by boat is in place in the affected regions.

Control rooms have been opened in East and West Godavari districts while two relief camps were set up in Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari, said the state Disaster Management Authority.

The water level at Badrachalam in Telangana has receded by 0.4 feet, from 47.8 feet to 47.4 feet and is expected to fall further. Authorities hope this will help bring the water levels – at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage – down in the next 24 hours.

(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)