DOWALESWARAM: Unprecedented rain in Maharashtra and low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has put flood conservation officials on high alert. Inflows from the upper stream have slowly been increasing for last two days.

The water levels at the Dowaleswaram Barrage had reached to almost 10 feet on Saturday. They were 10.05 feet last year during floods.

Increased floodwater inflows forced officials to increase the discharge of surplus water into the sea from 5 lakh cusecs to 7 lakh cusecs.

According to Flood Conservator D. Sukumar, the first danger level signal is 11.75 feet while the second danger level is 13.75 feet. The third danger level is 17.75 feet.

Danger levels

The Godavari had not touched the third level for three years. It was in 2001 that it touched 17.59 feet, after lifting all the 175 gates of the barrage. On August 16, 1986, the floodwater at the barrage from the upstream areas was 35.77 lakh cusecs.

Mr. Sukumar said that they were monitoring the situation and contemplating stopping launch services operating between Kovvuru and Rajahmundry Revu due to closure of rail-cum-road bridge. He hoped that the water would start receding by Sunday.

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