Andhra Pradesh   

Flood situation grim; Godavari continues to be in spate

Special Correspondent

Over 6 lakh cusecs of water flowing into Sriramsagar project in Nizamabad; toll 63

HYDERABAD: The Godavari continued to play havoc in parts of Telangana and Andhra regions even as the toll due to the floods in Andhra Pradesh mounted to 63 on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall in neighbouring Maharashtra saw over 6 lakh cusecs of water flowing into the Sriramsagar project in Nizamabad district while the river flowed at a height of 67 feet at Bhadrachalam leaving a trail of destruction.

An alarming situation prevailed in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and East Godavari districts, which are on either side of the river. Several villages along the course of the river bore the brunt of the floods.

People trapped

People in villages situated along the river were trapped on rooftops and waited for officials to rescue them. Road communication was completely thrown out of gear.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday undertook an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged Vizianagaram, East Godavari and Bhadrachalam division in Khammam. On his return to the city, Dr. Reddy announced a plan to modernise the entire Godavari delta as a permanent measure to avoid flooding of habitations as seen now.

As part of the plan, the canals originating from Dowlaiswaram anicut and the drains that take the used waters into the sea will be repaired. Further, the height of the Godavari embankments will be raised, as there is increase in the riverbed level due to heavy siltation.

The flood situation worsened in East Godavari as heavy rain lashed the district even as the level of the Godavari at Dowlaiswaram near Rajahmundry crossed 22.5 feet, the danger level due to heavy rain in the catchment area.

The officials are concerned that a 1986 type situation might recur when the water level touched 23.60 feet. Officials released 27 lakh cusecs of water into the sea on Sunday. Meanwhile, 120 habitations and another 50 villages from Devipatnam to Sakhinetipalli in Konaseema area were inundated. The Godavari, which enters the State in Nizamabad, was in spate as heavy rainfall in its catchment area in Maharashtra led to unprecedented inflows. The SRSP was getting heavy inflows after all the flood gates of Vishnupuri reservoir in Nanded district were lifted to allow over 5 lakh cusecs into the river. The SRSP was receiving 6 lakh cusecs including its tributaries forcing the authorities to open all the 42 crest gates.

In Adilabad, the Penganga on the Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra border caused untold misery to thousands of people in over 20 villages in five mandals forcing the authorities to declare high alert.

The river was already in spate since Saturday night and the situation will remain the same till Monday morning, as a huge quantity water was being discharged from Isapur Upper Penganga project in Yavatmal district.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Flood situation grim; Godavari continues to be in spate
Jumping on to the `brand'wagon
Make the past your future
Irrigation officials in firing line over flood control measures
Very passive to passive smoking
IIT-M to offer PG degree on humanities
Television studio inaugurated at OU
AIMA aptitude test on September 3
Friends' day out
Stock-taking
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu