GODAVARI IS RISING: Mother Godavari statue stands tall even as water level crosses the danger mark at Dhawaleswaram on Monday. - Photo: S. Rambabu

HYDERABAD: An estimated three lakh people in the Godavari delta were surrounded by swirling waters on Monday as the mighty river and its seven distributaries flowed into hundreds of villages and island habitations.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy sought the Army's help and briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the alarming situation before setting out on an aerial survey of Konaseema region in East Godavari. The Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam has been alerted even as six helicopters carried out numerous sorties to provide relief in flood-hit areas. The death toll rose to 100.

Tributaries in spate

Even as complaints about lack of assistance poured in, nearly three lakh people are given shelter in 200 relief camps. While the levels in the Godavari receded slightly (67 ft to 64 ft) at Bhadrachalam, the situation turned precarious as several of its tributaries were in spate. Gauthami and Vasista breached at two places flooding 160 villages and 50 island habitations. Parts of Polavaram, Narsapur and Mummidivaram towns were under waist-deep water. Water flowed over NH-214 cutting off Ravulapalem. In Bhadrachalam division, scores of villages remained marooned for the second day on Monday. Several parts of Adilabad remained inundated as the Penganga, facing its worst floods since 1962, severed key road links. The situation might worsen as huge quantities of water are being released from projects in Maharashtra

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