300 villages in Andhra Pradesh disconnected

Khammam: Nearly 300 habitations in Bhadrachalam and Paloncha revenue divisions have been cut off from road and power connectivity on Monday due to different rivulets and streams overflowing along with the Godavari river. The water level at Bhadrachalam touched 57 feet by 7 pm and it is estimated to touch 60 feet by 6 am on Tuesday. The fresh rain in Odisha is a cause for concern to the state.

Khammam district administration on Monday issued high alert in the wake of water level that crossed third warning of 53 feet. Some 19 lakh cusecs flood water has been discharged for the last 24 hours at Bhadrachalam and alarming rise in the water levels of Godavari River at Dowleswaram. Some 40 personnel of National Disaster Management Authority have rushed to Bhadrachalam to face the situation. Relief camps have been opened at Bhadrachalam, Charla, Venkatapuram, VR Puram, Kunavaram and Velierpad mandals. Some 150 families have been shifted to these camps.

A total of 20 rivulets and streams in Bhadrachalam revenue division, including Cheekupalli, Ballakattu, Kongala, Kukkathorri, Kondapuram, Devarapalli, Polikaka, Chippanapalli, Doddigudem, Kannaigudem and Gundala was overflowing and disconnected the road facility to 300 villages. These habitations have gone darkness as the power lines snapped. Collector, K Ilambarithi, said that senior revenue officials were monitoring the situation in the wake of surging water level. A control room has been set up in Bhadrachalam and Khammam, he added. The revenue teams keep constant vigil on these mandals and getting information from mandal offices through wireless sets from hour to hour.