Godavari floods start receding in many mandals

Kakinada: With the Godavari floods gradually receding and the flows from upper reaches having come down, the first warning has been withdrawn at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram in East Godavari district.

However, some causeways like Kona Rajupeta-VR Puram, which cut off transportation facilities for 10 villages, VR Puram-Adavi Venkannagudem, Chinturu-VR Puram and others, have not been cleared yet as Sabari and Indravathi, branches of Godavari River, are overflowing.

As many as 19 villages under Kothuru causeway in Polavaram mandal of West Godavari have not been restored as the flood waters are flowing on the causeway. Meanwhile, other causeways like Vaddigudem, Sriamagiri, Kannayyagudem, Thustigudem, Ippavaram and others, which were encircled by flood waters, are now slowly clearing the way.

At Kunavaram mandal, Sokileru reservoir is still overflowing. In Devipatnam mandal, flood water has remained stagnant in villages due to the upper cofferdam to Polavaram irrigation project and some families from Kondamodalu panchayat are still in nearby hillock areas.

Causeways in Lanka villages like Kanakayalanka and others in P.Gannavaram mandal remain inundated and officials expect that the causeway could be restored by Sunday evening. As the famed Gandipochamma temple is still submerged, it has been closed.

Rampachodavaram sub-collector Katta Simhachalam said that all precautions are being taken and victims from Devipatnam mandal villages have been urged to move to rehabilitation centres that have been set up for them. He said that many victims have been provided shelters in R&R colonies.

Meanwhile, water decreased to 8.92 lakh cusecs by Saturday night from 9.92 lakh in the morning. Officials expect that it may fall to 6 lakh by Sunday evening.