Andhra Pradesh: Areas abutting Budameru Canal Stream engulfed in floodwater
Vijayawada: In the aftermath of heavy rains that lashed NTR and Krishna districts in the last two days, floodwater from the overflowing Budameru Canal stream engulfed New Rajarajeshwari Pet, Ajith Singh Nagar, Prakash Nagar, Pipul Road, Devi Nagar, Rayanapadu, and other areas abutting the stream in the Vijayawada Central constituency, which were completely submerged on Sunday morning.
Thousands of houses were flooded as the Budameru stream overflowed in the region. As the Budameru stream suddenly engulfed these areas, the police, municipal corporation, and revenue authorities were pressed into service to carry out rescue operations, rescuing people stranded on the ground and first floors of buildings and shifting them to relief centres opened by the municipal corporation.
Locals alleged that the authorities did not issue a flood alert or warning regarding the possibility of the Budameru stream overflowing. “Around 8 am on Sunday, floodwater from the Budameru stream started entering our homes, and in no time, all our household belongings and our house were submerged in waist-deep water, with the water level gradually rising,” said Archana, a resident of Ajith Singh Nagar.
Residents said the unprecedented phenomenon is being experienced after a hiatus of two decades, as the Budameru Canal last overflowed in 2005 and submerged parts of Vijayawada city then. Following the Budameru stream overflowing, the Railway Under Bridge (RUB) at the Ajith Singh Nagar flyover and the Rythu Bazaar in the area were completely submerged in floodwater.
In view of the heavy inflows into the Budameru Canal, the authorities released 30,000 cusecs of floodwater downstream by lifting 11 head regulator gates of the Budameru stream.With floodwater overflowing onto the railway tracks at the Rayanapadu railway station, the authorities stopped a train at the station.
Meanwhile, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), along with the district administration, assessed the floodwater and rescue operations in the affected areas. (Sri Krishna Kummara - 8919282488)
