Godavari rise alarms state

Rajahmundry: Water level in Godavari river was rising alarmingly inundating several low-lying areas along its course on either side affecting hundreds of villagers in Godavari districts on Monday.
Irrigation head works executive engineer and river conservator P.V. Tirupati Rao said that as the water level in the river crossed 13.75 ft at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram with a discharge of over 13 lakhs cusecs of water into the sea, the second warning level was issued at about 4.45 pm. “We are expecting the water level to rise with an expected discharge of three lakhs cusecs into the sea in the hours ahead as the water level remained stable at about 55.7 ft at Bhadrachalam,” he said.

As many as 15 families residing at Veeravaram Lanka of Devipatnam mandal were shifted to a relief centre as the rising water level inundated their island. Ten families from SC Colony were shifted to safety from Toyyeru village. Road connectivity was lost between Veeravaram and Devipatnam as flood water entered on the road. Villagers from four mandals including Coonavaram, Chintoor, Nekkipalli that were newly merged and others of erstwhile Bhad-rachalam division, were shifted to safety. Rampachodavaram Integrated Tribal Development Agency project officer G. Chandrudu said, “We are evacuating the villagers from vulnerable places to relief centres and providing food and water. We are keeping adequate stock of essential commodities at several places to provide food at relief camps.”

In Rajahmundry, people are kept on flood alert at Alamur, Seetanagaram and Rajahmundry urban mandals and about 10 families from island villages like Bridgelanka and Kethavarilanka were shifted to a relief centre set up at Kambham Choultry in Rajahmundry and they are being provided with food and water. Children are being provided with milk. Rajahmundry RDO J. Radha Krishna Murthy said, “If the water level rises further, our officials will evacuate all islanders to safety immediately and we are keeping boats on standby for the purpose.” In Amalapuram, the authorities are closing the gates of sluices and drains and keeping sand bags ready to avoid inundation of several villages and island villages. As many as 16 mandals are vulnerable for getting affected if the water level in Godavari rises further.

Amalapuram RDO incharge Gangadhar Kumar said, “We are keeping 800 metric tonnes of essential commodities as buffer stocks to supply to the relief centres in case of evacuation.” East Godavari Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad reviewed the flood situation with the officials and issued directions to be on alert to ensure safety to the people. Flood control rooms are set up at Collectorate at Kakinada with the no. 0884-2365224, 2365428. A toll free number is also set up with the no. 18004253077. Control rooms are set up at offices of RDO of Rajahmundry and Amalapuram and at Rampachodavaram in the district.

In West Godavari, the back waters of surging river inundated Kothur causeway of Polavaram mandal disrupting the road connectivity to about 26 villages. Revenue authorities say that they have arranged five country boats fitted with motors for the benefit of the people to cross the inundated causeway and reach their villages and also for transport of goods. District revenue officer K. Prabhakara Rao said, “We have set up flood  control rooms at Collectorate at Eluru also at the offices of RDOs and tahsildars of vulnerable areas to keep tab on flood situation and provide relief to the people.”