The Hindu : Front Page : Flood situation continues to be grim

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 07, 2006

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Front Page

Flood situation continues to be grim

Special Correspondent

Godavari continues to play havoc in parts of Telangana and Andhra; toll mounts to 63

VITAL LINK CUT: The road between Karimnagar and Adilabad districts remains disconnected following the floodwaters overflowing on the Rayapatnam bridge across the Godavari in Karimnagar district on Sunday. — Photo: R. Raju

HYDERABAD: The Godavari continued to play havoc in parts of Telangana and Andhra regions even as the toll due to the floods in the State 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.

Meanwhile, 120 habitations and another 50 villages from Devipatnam to Sakhinetipalli in Konaseema area were inundated. 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 would remain the same till Monday morning as a huge quantity water was being discharged from Isapur Upper Penganga project in Yavatmal district.

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