Bhadradri people find Godavari floods a rare phenomenon

Bhadrachalam: This year, the Bhadrachalam region has been reeling under the Godavari floods for more than 40 days, which is unprecedented.

The flood flowing from July 9 to August 19 is new to the people of the area. Mallidi Lalaiah, 93 years old and a resident of Manuguru, said, “I have never experienced floods in Godavari for more than forty days. The flood in Godavari used to last five to a maximum of fifteen days. "I was present when Godavari's water level reached 75 feet, the highest ever recorded, and flood flow for such a long time is new to me.”

The water level of Godavari at Bhadrachalam crossed 43 feet on July 9 and was witnessed at 71.20 feet on July 16. The flood flow is above 43 feet for at least 25 days, and it is a new experience for them. N. Ananthaiah, 72 years old and a resident of Dummugudem, said, “The road between Charla and Bhadrachalam was cut off for at least twenty days and I have never seen such a situation.”

The water level of the Godavari was 75 feet in 1986, and the flood receded within a week. The floods in 1975, 1996, and 2004 returned to normal within a week.

Rajsuhas, an irrigation engineer, said, “Definitely, it is a rare phenomenon this year. The floods used to reach more than 43 feet or 53 feet on some days before returning to normal after a week or ten days.Floods for more than 40 days are a new thing. The incessant rains for a long time in the catchment areas of Indravati, Painganga, Pranahita, and Taliperu caused the continuous floods in the Godavari. The continuous flood flow is a matter of discussion among locals of Burgampahad, Aswapuram, Manuguru, Pinapaka, Bhadrhalam, Charla, and Dummugudem mandals in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district.

The water level on August 19 was also 47.5 feet, which is more than 4.5 feet above the first warning level of 43 feet. The water flow in Godavari at Bhadrachalam for the last 40 days is nearly 4.5 crore cusecs.