Khammam: The water level in the Godavari rose to 41 feet on Wednesday, two feet less than the first warning of 43 feet. The river is receiving 35,000 cusecs from Donkarai hydel power project on the river Siler via the Sabari.
Officials are keeping a close watch in view of the heavy rains that are still continuing in the upstream areas.
Downstream, the Godavari river was rising steadily following rainfall in its catchment areas in Indravati apart from the Sabari and Sileru.
At Dowlaiswaram, the water level had risen to 12.10 feet and officials were discharging of 10.4 lakh cusecs from the Sir Arthur Cotton barrage. The water level is expected to rise further as the rainfall still continues in its catchment areas. The first warning level at the barrage is still in force as it was declared when the water level touched 11.75 feet at the barrage earlier.
The water resources authorities are attending to a small stretch of vulnerable flood bank at Polavaram in order to strengthen it to avoid any possible breach in case the water level rises further in the river.
Meanwhile, 23 devotees including four children who were stranded in floodwaters were rescued by the police on Wednesday near Meda-ram in Mulugu district.
Superintendent of police Sangram Singh, G. Patil said streams on the way to Medaram were overflowing, inundating parts of the road near the causeways. The devotees who visited the temple in their cars passed through these causeways.
