BHADADRI-KOTHAGUDEM: People of Badhrachalam are panic-stricken after floodwater submerged several areas, including residential colonies and the surroundings of the famed Sri Sitaramachandraswamy temple, following heavy rains for the last 24 hours.
More than 50 mm rainfall was reported in eight of the 26 mandals in the district. The highest rainfall of 75.3 mm was recorded at Garimellapadu of Chuchupally mandal.
As the slice locks of Godavari river were kept closed, and with hardly any chance of them going into the river, rain water and backwaters of Godavari entered the town.
Officials had recently closed the slice locks with sand pockets to avoid flow of Godavari water into the town after its water levels had increased. In what is being alleged as gross negligence, the officials did not remove them.
The floodwater was knee-deep around the Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple, while steps on its west side remained inundated. Floodwater reached Dammakka Nitya Annddhana Sathram and the proposed Mada Veedhulu and complexes at the temple were also submerged.
With the situation turning grim, people living in Ashoknagar, Kotha Colony and Ayyappa colonies were shifted to temporary shelters that have been setup in a nearby school building.
Officials tried to operate three motors to pump the floodwater into Godavari river but they did not start in the absence of their proper maintenance.
Agriculture minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao spoke to the district collector Jitesh V. Patel about the situation and issued instructions to avoid inconvenience to the people and devotees. He suggested opening of sluice locks of Karakatta. He also enquired about the stumble of Kalyana Mandapam at Sri Kusuma Harinathda Baba temple.
Bhadrachalam locals have found fault with the officials for not opening the sluice locks even though the water levels in Godavari river had reduced.
Meanwhile, SC Colony and BC colony in Kothagudem were submerged following continuous overflow from Chinna Cheruvu.
Vehicles were not allowed on the Kothagudem-Vijayawada and Kothagudem-Bhadrachalam roads due to overflowing flood water, which was a potential risk.
As flood water surrounded Mother and Child Hospitals at Chunchupally, doctors treated pregnant women and patients on the roads as they came to the government hospital in auto rickshaws and private vehicles. It was difficult for the vehicles to reach the hospital.
Dammapet, Annapureddypeta, Ashwaraopet, Mulkalapally and Chinthani mandals received heavy rains.
