Mancherial Faces Flood Threat With Kaleshwaram Backwaters

Adilabad: Pregnant women, nursing mothers and newborns at the Mother and Child Health Centre in Mancherial were relocated for safety as the water level in the Godavari began rising on Monday.

The Godavari is experiencing high inflows of water at Mancherial due to water release from the Sripada Yellampalli project, where 30 gates have been lifted to discharge water downstream. The project received 3 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) from the Kadam project and an additional 2 lakh cusecs from the Sriramsagar Project (SRSP), resulting in the release of 6.5 lakh cusecs to the Godavari near Mancherial.

The inflows to Yellampalli came after 10 gates of the Kadam project were opened, with further releases from SRSP into the Godavari. Additionally, with backwaters from the Kaleshwaram project reaching the town, several colonies in the town have been inundated. Floodwaters have also inundated standing crops of cotton and paddy in Hajipur and Mancherial mandals.

Officials evacuated people from low-lying areas in Mancherial on Monday to mitigate the risk of flooding. Water has reached the Pushkar ghats and the Godavari is receiving more water from the Ralla Vagu stream.

MLA K. Premsagar Rao visited the affected colonies, reassuring residents about the government's proactive measures to prevent any untoward incidents. Along with the collector and irrigation officials, Premsagar Rao visited the Yellampalli project and instructed the authorities to remain vigilant due to the flood threat to Mancherial town.

The collector has urged residents of low-lying areas and those in areas affected by waterlogging to contact the control room for assistance. Mancherial DCP Bhaskar stated that a quick response force, including 20 trained police officers and a speedboat, has been stationed at the Godavari River to conduct relief and rescue operations if necessary.