Srikakulam: With water level in Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers, which on Monday played havoc in the district, receding on Tuesday, the administration began assessing damage to crops and irrigation sources.

The discharge at Thotapalli reservoir across Nagavali, which reached a record level of 1.67 lakh cusecs on Monday, stood at 39,000 cusecs by 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Similarly the discharge at Gotta Barrage on Vamsadhara, which was 1.39 lakh cusecs on Monday, had come down to less than 1 lakh cusecs.

Huge breaches

According to District Collector V.N. Vishnu who visited the affected areas, 76 sources under Vamsadhara have been damaged, requiring Rs. 1.33 crores for undertaking repairs. Nearly 3,000 families had been affected because of floods in Nagavali.

Nine relief camps were organised to accommodate these families. The marooned families in Kimmi village were evacuated. The helicopter that was pressed into service could not be of any help because of poor light.

There was major damage to the regulator of Thotapalli project. Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Prasad said five gates of the reservoir had been damaged and two washed off.

17 mandals affected

Mr. Vishnu said that nursery beds on 200 hectares, sugarcane on 2,000 hectares and gingily on 1,300 hectares had been damaged. Other crops damaged included banana (350 Ha), groundnut (300 Ha) maize (200 Ha) and pulses (200 Ha). In all 72 villages in 17 mandals under the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers were affected.

One person Jangam Annaji of Nivagam village was washed off. A preliminary report on the damages has already been sent to the Government.

Mr. Vishnu said that Srikakulam, which has a strong protection wall, was not affected by Nagavali floodwater.

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