Bhadrachalam: Following continuous rains, Godavari’s water level breached the 70-feet mark for the third time since 1986. Previously, the water level touched 75.6 feet on August 16, 1986, and 70.8 feet on August 24, 1990.
Godavari’s water level at Bhadrachalam, as of Friday, was at 70.5 feet. Nearly 24.03 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged from Bhadrachalam and the water level is expected to breach the 75-feet mark early on Saturday.
The water level breached the 60-feet mark six times since 1976. While it was 63.9 feet on June 22, 1976, water levels were 63.5 feet on August 14, 1983, 70.8 on August 24, 1990, 66.9 feet on August 6, 2006, 61.6 on August 22 and nearly 70.5 feet on Friday respectively.
The current floods have highlighted the need for protective measures, such as increasing the height of the bunds on the river at Bhadrachalam. The water level increased gradually on the river by the hour on Friday. It was at 66.70 feet at 6 am, 67.1 feet at 7 am, 67.5 at 8 am, 67.9 at 9 am, 68.3 feet at 10 am, 68.7 feet at 11 am, 68 feet at 12 noon, 69.4 feet at 1 pm, 69.9 feet at 3 pm and 70.5 feet at 6 pm.
The outflow at Laxmi and Sripada Yellampalli project was 24 lakh cusecs and it is likely to increase further. The government also deployed a helicopter to Bhadrachalam as part of rescue and relief operations. Bhadrachalam was cut off as four roads were closed due to the floods. Transport minister P. Ajay Kumar said the administration will continue its vigil on Godavari floods during the night as well. The teams are trying their best to safeguard lives as well as property, he said.
